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MRFF Information/Contact: (505)-250-7727


BREAKING!
Tuesday, August 14, 2018

MRFF UNVEILS
GENERAL TEICHERT's NEFARIOUS FUNDAMENTALIST AGENDA,
IGNITING MEDIA COVERAGE INTERNATIONALLY

-Newsweek Homepage
-Los Angeles Times
-LA Progressive
-Patheos' Friendly Atheist
-Daily Sabah (Turkish Media Group)

(See articles below!)


GENERAL TEICHERT SHOULD BE DOING TIME BEHIND PRISON BARS, NOT COMMANDING A WING WEARING GENERAL's STARS

He has denigrated LGBT individuals, slammed American society at large, and, of course, delivered election voting mandate directives wherein he has effusively urged
that only HIS type of approved Christian should ever
be elected to American public office.
 

USAF Brigadier General E. John Teichert, a fundamentalist Christian tyrant and religious extremist predator, is the brand new Wing Commander of the prestigious 412th Test Wing at the storied Edwards AFB in California.

Quote from one of General Teichert's sermons:

"I would ask for your prayers for wisdom in my life of leadership and discernment and understanding and knowledge for influence over the nation's senior leaders that I get to rub shoulders with. My desire in my life is to maximize my impact on people in our country for the Lord"


MRFF's LEGAL COUNSEL,
DON REHKOPF, ESQ.,
SENDS 22 PAGE DEMAND LETTER TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE,
JAMES MATTIS RE: TEICHERT

Today, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)
through its legal counsel Mr. Donald Rehkopf, Esq.,
made an official demand to the Secretary of Defense,
James Mattis, to immediately and comprehensively
investigate USAF Brigadier General E. John Teichert

Sunday, August 12, 2018



Click to enlarge and read full letter


MIKEY/MRFF STATEMENT ON GENERAL TEICHERT, AKA: RELIGIOUS WARRIOR & SENIOR MILITARY MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN CHRISTIAN
VERSION OF THE TALIBAN

Monday, August 13, 2018

 
General Teichert Should Be Doing Time Behind Prison Bars, Not Commanding a Wing Wearing General's Stars

"Today, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) through its legal counsel Mr. Donald Rehkopf, Esq., made an official  demand to the Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, to immediately and comprehensively investigate USAF Brigadier General E. John Teichert. 

This fundamentalist Christian tyrant and religious extremist predator is the brand new Wing Commander of the prestigious 412th Test Wing at the storied Edwards AFB in California.

MRFF is representing 41 courageous client complainants against Brigadier General Teichert at Edwards AFB. This constituency of MRFF clients includes USAF officers, enlisted personnel, USAF civilians and civilian contractors. 32 of MRFF's clients are practicing Christians (Protestants and Roman Catholics). The remainder include Muslim, Jewish and Hindu followers as well as adherents to non-faith traditions such as atheism, agnosticism, humanism and secularism.

Brigadier General Teichert's disgraceful, illegal and brazen promotion of his personal flavor of his weaponized version of Christianity represents one of the worst and most egregious cases MRFF has ever encountered in its 13 years of First Amendment civil rights advocacy.
The depth and width of Brigadier General Teichert's unbridled path of utter and bold destruction to the Constitutional guarantees of separation of church and state nearly defy measurement. 

Teichert can best be described as a one person "Tailhook Scandal" for the USAF as regards unauthorized fundamentalist Christian proselytizing and undue Christian religious influence peddling. Indeed, Teichert has utilized his titular position as an extremely senior USAF Commander, and now Flag Officer/General, as an ugly and illicit force multiplier to prey (and pray) upon his otherwise helpless military subordinates. He perpetrates this iniquitous evil via various vile and wicked communication tools but, especially, his online fundamentalist Christian ministry website known as "PLUS"; "Prayer at Lunchtime for the United States". Teichert has inextricably intertwined his USAF position of senior command with "PLUS" wherein, to highlight just a few of his "ministry's" targets, he has denigrated LGBT individuals, slammed American society at large, and, of course, delivered election voting mandate directives wherein he has effusively urged that only HIS type of approved Christian should ever be elected to American public office. 

Anyone wishing to read Teichert's outrageous, sectarian religious statements of fundamentalist Christian primacy, domination, exceptionalism, exclusivity and supremacy-illegally and wretchedly buttressed by his absolutely deliberate and intentional utilization and nefarious leveraging of his senior, active duty, USAF command rank and position-can easily access them by clicking on the following link: http://prayatlunch.us/

But Teichert, alone, is hardly the only villain in this unconstitutional train wreck.

MRFF demands to know who Teichert's USAF and DoD enablers are and have been. Prior to assuming his new position at Edwards AFB, Teichert was the Wing Commander of the immensely visible 11th Wing at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The 11th Wing is the "Host Wing" at Joint Base Andrews  which is world famous for being where Air Force One is housed and maintained.  This Command allowed Teichert almost unrestricted universal access to the highest dignitaries and officials of DoD and the White House including Trump's own family. How many of them are complicit through either gross malfeasance or misfeasance in permitting Teichert's reign of abhorrent fundamentalist Christian proselytizing terror? Whoever and wherever they currently are, these individuals, too, must be investigated and punished.

MRFF demands that Secretary Mattis aggressively pursue justice in this investigation of Brigadier General Teichert. Teichert has, in the opinion of MRFF, viciously violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice and should be tenaciously and most visibly prosecuted and convicted of same. 

Just as the Navy did in response to the "Tailhook Scandal" of September, 1991, the DoD and USAF must convey a powerful, unmistakable message to the rest of the United States armed forces that Teichert's unconstitutional actions of sectarian religious proselytizing -- not to mention his religiously-based overt and public partisan political attacks -- will never be tolerated and will be severely punished.

Indeed, General Teichert should be doing time behind prison bars, not commanding a Wing wearing General's stars."

NEWSWEEK BREAKS THE STORY

"Evangelical U.S. Air Force General Has Secretly Been Running a Christian Online Ministry in Possible Violation of Rules: EXCLUSIVE"

Monday, August 13, 2018

By: Nina Burleigh | Newsweek
Date: 8/13/2018

The Air Force Brigadier General newly in charge of one of the nation's most celebrated and elite Air Force wings has been running an online evangelical Christian ministry for the last five years - in violation of Air Force and Defense Department rules about religious proselytizing, according to a formal letter of complaint sent to Defense Secretary James Mattis Sunday.

The Military and Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), a nonprofit that advocates for separation of church and state in the military, sent the letter after receiving what its founder and president Michael "Mikey" Weinstein said were 41 complaints about the officer, Brig. Gen. E. John Teichert...

[...]

In a 22-page complaint letter sent yesterday to Mattis and to Teichert's superiors at the base and at the Pentagon, and shared with Newsweek, the MRFF requests an investigation into whether his "conduct interferes with or violates the civil liberties of service-members and civilians under his command," and whether it violated military diversity regulations.

The MRFF also suggests that by not including a disclaimer on his website, he is violating Air Force standards that require leaders to "balance constitutional protections for their own free exercise of religion, including individual expressions of religious beliefs, and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. They must ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed to be officially endorsing or disproving of, or extending preferential treatment for any faith, belief, or absence of belief."

[...]

Weinstein, whose organization claims 57,000 members, has said that under President Donald Trump, radical evangelicals in the military have been emboldened.

[...]

Click to read more on Newsweek.com


LOS ANGELES TIMES COVERS MRFF

"Religious website triggers complaint against Edwards Air Force Base brigadier general"

Monday, August 13, 2018

By: *Sarah Parvini | LA Times
Date: 8/13/2018

A group of U.S. Air Force officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees are calling for an investigation into the installation commander of Edwards Air Force Base, accusing him of violating Department of Defense policies on religious proselytizing.

On Sunday, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation made an official demand to Defense Secretary James N. Mattis to "immediately and comprehensively" investigate Air Force Brig. Gen. E. John Teichert.

The foundation, which seeks to maintain the separation of church and state in the military, provided reporters with a copy of the demand on Monday.

At issue is Teichert's website, called "Prayer at Lunchtime for the United States," in which the commander says he encourages "Bible-believing Americans to take time to specifically pray for our nation at lunchtime every day."

[...]

Michael Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said his organization represents 41 "client complainants," the vast majority of whom are practicing Christians. The group also includes Muslims, Jews, Hindus and atheists, he said.

[...]

The website features a prayer list, which includes "President Trump, Vice President Pence, and the Trump administration," "a return to our Biblical foundation," "recognition of God's preeminence in our lives and in our land" and "the unborn," among others.

The page also links to a 2014 interview that uses Teichert's full name and discusses his military career. In it, he says "we have allowed our country to slip away from its founding Christian principles while it has become increasingly intolerant of Christianity."

[...]

*Sarah Parvini is a reporter on the Los Angeles Times' Metro desk covering breaking news and stories throughout the state. She was part of the team that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the San Bernardino terrorist attack.

Click to read more on LATimes.com


LA PROGRESSIVE COVERS TEICHERT AND MRFF

"Air Force General Promotes Evangelical Christianity to Subordinates"

Monday, August 13, 2018

By: Dick Price | LA Progressive
Date: 8/13/2018

Air Force Brigadier General E. John Teichert, newly installed commander of the 412th Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base, has been accused of operating an online ministry that promotes his particular brand of Evangelical Christianity to base troops, contractors, and civilian employees.

The site, known as PLUS - or Prayer at Lunchtime for the United States - "denigrated LGBT individuals, slammed American society at large," and promoted "approved" Christians for elective office, according to the complaint.

Michael L. "Mikey" Weinstein, founder of the Military and Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), yesterday delivered a demand letter about the general's activities to Secretary of Defense John Mattis, on behalf of 41 Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Agnostic members of his organization, demanding that these violations of the First Amendment right to religious freedom cease.

General Teichert, nicknamed "Dragon," reportedly wants to use his senior military position, not just to press his religious views on subordinates, but also to influence national policy. In one sermon, he said:

"I would ask for your prayers for wisdom in my life of leadership and discernment and understanding and knowledge for influence over the nation's senior leaders that I get to rub shoulders with. My desire in my life is to maximize my impact on people in our country for the Lord."

[...]

Click to read more on LAProgressive.com


PATHEOS' FRIENDLY ATHEIST COVERS MRFF!

"An Air Force Leader Wants to Promote Jesus via the Military,
Says Watchdog Group"

Monday, August 13, 2018

By: Hemant Mehta | Patheos
Date: 8/13/2018

Brigadier General E. John Teichert
 was recently appointed as commander of the 412th Test Wing, located at the Edwards Air Force Base in California. It's an important position, as this group really manages the aircraft (and weapons and software and simulations) used by the Air Force.

[...]

For years now, Teichert has run a group called Prayer at Lunchtime for the United States, in which he’s posted articles and interviews merging church and state. He also has no problem using this military achievements while proselytizing — a major no-no.

[...]

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation and its founder Mikey Weinstein are now asking Defense Secretary James Mattis to investigate whether Teichert's conduct "interferes with or violates the diversity or equal opportunities of service-members and civilians under his command." The letter is written on behalf of 41 MRFF clients (32 of whom are Christians), "many of whom are in mortal fear of retaliation should they be personally identified in this matter."

[...]

Click to read more on Patheos.com


TURKISH NEWSPAPER
(DAILY SABAH)
COVERS MRFF!

"US Air Force General running
secret evangelical Christian
ministry online, letter reveals"

Monday, August 13, 2018

By: Daily Sabah
Date: 8/13/2018

A formal letter of complaint sent to U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis has revealed that a U.S. Air Force Brigadier General has been operating "an online evangelical Christian ministry" since 2013, violating government and military rules on proselytization — the act of trying to get someone to change faiths.

The letter penned by the Military and Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), a nonprofit organization advocating for the separation of church and state in the military, was sent to Mattis and the Pentagon on Sunday after 41 complaints were received about Brig. Gen. E. John Teichert, Newsweek's Nina Burleigh reported Monday.

The 22-page complaint letter, also sent to Teichert's commanders at Edwards Air Force Base, requests an investigation into whether the general's "conduct interferes with or violates the civil liberties of service-members and civilians under his command."

[...]

Click to read more on dailysabah.com


TEICHERT's "PRAY AT LUNCHTIME FOR THE UNITED STATES" (PLUS) BLOG IS INCRIMINATING

Teichert's fundamentalist website boasts hundreds of religious posts like the following, which condemns MRFF

Monday, August 13, 2018

Click to read on prayatlunch.us


Inbox logo

"Examples of Christian religious extremism near Edwards AFB"

Monday, August 13, 2018

From: MRFF Client at Edwards AFB
Subject: Examples of Christian religious extremism near Edwards AFB
Date: August 13, 2018 
To: Mikey Weinstein

Mikey,

I wanted to give you some more evidence of why I requested anonymity in assisting you investigate Brigadier General Ernest John Teichert. Perhaps this information can help you in dealing with reporters who ask you why the complainants have pleaded for anonymity.
 
Attached are screen shots taken from Google Earth Street View that show a few scenes that are just a few miles from my house in Antelope Valley, a small town located just outside the western boundary of the base. The large sign that includes the word 'Israel' is next to a church that is adjacent to the Highway 14 off ramp one takes to go to Edwards AFB when driving north from Los Angeles. That is the same sign that for several years displayed the words 'The Only Purpose of Man is to Fear God'. What worries me the most in this small set of pictures is that most of these religious statements are displayed in front of people's homes, not churches.
 
Not shown in these pictures are the following
 
- the Christian anti-abortionist who for many years has stood on a street corner on Rosamond Blvd every work day facing cars driving to/from Edwards AFB. He has a large sign mounted around his body -- the sign includes a very visible picture of a bloody aborted fetus. He also has a doll of a small baby hanging by the neck from a noose. I can't remember all the words included on his sign, but it is along the lines of 'everyone who engages in abortion will burn in hell for eternity'.
 
- the guy who drives around Rosamond in a car absolutely covered with fundamentalist Christian diatribes. I wish I had taken a picture of his car, but I don't have a picture of it. The words he has painted on the car are along the lines of 'Only Jesus Saves', 'Non-Believers Will Burn in Hell', etc. He also randomly stops along the side of the road in various places in Rosamond to use his bullhorn to yell out his extremist views. He says only devout Christians are going to heaven -- everyone else is going straight to hell. 

 

Click to view photos in MRFF's Inbox

 

"Soldier Expresses Gratitude to MRFF For Assistance the US Army
Refuses to Give"

Saturday, August 11, 2018

From: U.S. Army Soldier's E-Mail Address Withheld
Subject: US Army Soldier Thanks MRFF
Date: August 11, 2018
To: Mikey Weinstein

Mr. Weinstein,

I would like to take a moment to send an extremely necessary thank you to everyone at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation for the unprecedented support they provided me while I was forced to endure a poisonous environment while stationed here in (city and country withheld). I came forward (number withheld) days ago with intentions of filing an Equal Opportunity Complaint and have yet to be able to file a report with any of the Equal Opportunity Advisers assigned to any of the numerous military bases in the local area. I have been not been provided opportunity to file a complaint against the unit leadership that forced Christian books into my hands while in-processing, handed out Christian Bibles with the unit insignia stamped on top giving indication that the unit endorsed nothing other than religion I do not believe in... [cont.] I am forced to report to the very people who my complaints are against.  I have been forced to face even further retaliation from the people who have so viciously discriminated against me throughout the entirety of my assignment in this unit.

Despite promises described in Army regulation for equality and fair treatment, including abilities to file an equal opportunity charge without delay, the only organization that has provided me any assistance has been the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Without this organization, I would still be alone inside a unit with all abilities to reprise, retaliate and cause even further destruction to my life and career. Without delay, Mikey and his team provided me assistance that is currently unavailable in the U.S. Army. I cannot describe where I would be right now without this outstanding organization. I’d like to emphasize for anyone dealing with oppression, discrimination and injustice throughout the US Military, never forget that MRFF is here to provide the assistance that you will not receive by the agencies who provide such unfulfilled promises. Please do not hesitate to contact MRFF as they will be there for you unlike any other entity and will ensure that you receive the assistance you deserve. Thank you, Mikey. Thank you, MRFF. What you do every single day for the U.S. Armed Forces is impossible to describe in full, but I would like to tell you how appreciative I am for everything you have done for me and the 57,000 plus over the many years who have come to you for help. Thank you!

Best Wishes,

(U.S. Army Soldier’s name, rank, MOS, unit and military installation all withheld)

Click to read in MRFF Inbox


MRFF Information/Contact: (505)-250-7727

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