After the group American Humanist Association threatened to sue the Air Force on behalf of an atheist Airman, the Air Force immediately removed the requirement to say ‘So Help Me God’ from their enlistment oath.
The Airman was denied re-enlistment after crossing the phrase off the oath on Aug. 25th, prompting the suit.
“We take any instance in which Airmen report concerns regarding religious freedom seriously,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, Air Force Times reported Wednesday. The change in policy goes into effect immediately.
“We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed our client has a First Amendment right to omit the reference to a supreme being in his reenlistment oath,” Monica Miller, an attorney with the AHA’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center, said in a statement Wednesday, Air Force Times reported. “We hope the Air Force will respect the constitutional rights of Atheists in the future.”
The Army, Navy and Marine Corps all give enlistees the option to say “so help me God.”
Put it back in where it belongs
This totally offends me, an American citizen, why does no one care?
That is just so very very wrong in so many many ways~~~
I think the American Humanist organization should be shut down too!
Bull$#%&!@*!!!
It’s wrong to omit So Help Me GOD. This is America.
i care , that no good will never stop me from saying itthis is AMERICA and in my heart i will never listen to him. some day they will open thier eyes,but then it will be to late.
I do agree with both Nell and Connie.
OMG!! Take a stand for something America…would you?
is this not still America one nation under God