EDITOR: Non-religious Americans have and continue to serve in
all branches of the armed forces and yet they receive no
recognition from our government, while religious members of the
military have their faiths represented by paid religious
chaplains.
EDITOR:
Non-religious Americans have and continue to serve in all branches of the armed forces and yet they receive no recognition from our government, while religious members of the military have their faiths represented by paid religious chaplains.
I respectfully request that President Bush eliminate this faith-based discrimination by establishing a corps of specifically identified non-religious counselors on a par with current chaplains.
When facing injury or death, secular humanist, atheist, agnostic and other non-religious members off the military deserve the option of being comforted by individuals sharing their perspective and values.
Establishing equal supportive services for non-religious members of the military will help to unite our servicemen and women under our secular constitution instead of dividing them by providing preferential treatment to the religious.
Joe Beck, Niagra Falls, N.Y.
