MilitaryReligiousFreedom.org

Fighting for our servicemembers' rights, so they can fight for ours.

 

Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation today.


              

Tuesday, October 18, 2016


MRFF COMMENDS CHILLICOTHE VETERAN AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER (VAMC) IN ATHENS OHIO, FOR PROMPT NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE REMOVAL FROM MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC

Statement from MRFF Founder and President,
Mikey Weinstein

"On behalf of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation's (MRFF) veteran clients, MRFF is sincerely thankful for the prompt removal of the New Testament Bible from the Mental Health Clinic's waiting room by the staff at Chillicothe Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Athens, Ohio.

By removing the New Testament Bible, Chillicothe VAMC is now in compliance with the Constitutional guarantee of separation of church and state which MRFF fights to uphold.

Upon being officially notified by MRFF of the New Testament Bible's illicit and unconsititutional placement in the Mental Health Clinic waiting room, the Chillicothe VAMC staff took the commendable action of immediatley removing the New Testament Bible within 3 hours of the demand by MRFF. By having the courage to enforce the Constitution, and follow the VA's own regulations and precedents to remove the New Testament Bible, Chillicothe VAMC shows respect to the U.S. military's hundreds if not thousands of diverse faith traditions as well as no faith."

- Mikey Weinstein, MRFF Founder and President

 

Original email from Retired U.S. Army Soldier which initated MRFF's immediate response to get the New Testament Bible removed from Chillicothe VAMC Mental Health Clinic Waiting Room

From: Retired U.S. Army Soldier's E-Mail Address Withheld
Subject: Bible in VA Waiting Room
Date: October 14, 2016 at 3:16:20 PM MDT
To: Mikey

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you today to request advocacy regarding a Bible in my local VA Clinic's Mental Health waiting room.

As a medically retired combat veteran who deployed to (military assignment location withheld) with the (infantry division witheld), I feel that a single religious text in a government office such as this represents an endorsement of that religion- an act which is a direct affront to the constitutional protections I fought to preserve. Our government is secular, and must remain secular.

I requested that the Bible be removed, and it was not. My request was met mostly with confusion, and I do not necessarily believe there is any malicious intent. Instead, I suspect there is a lack of understanding of the fact that a religious text should not be there at all. I sense an honest ignorance to the problem, which must be met with education. I request that you assist me in this process, as the severity of my service-connected PTSD would make it difficult for me to resolve the issue professionally, and without potentially creating additional problems for myself.

*The image below was captured today, October 14, 2016, in the Mental Health waiting room in the Athens, OH VA Clinic at 510 W Union St, Athens, OH 45701. The clinic can be reached at
(phone number withheld) or (website withheld).

(*The image of the New Testament Bible on waiting room table was attached to original email.)

 

Response to Mikey from Chillicothe VAMC's Associate Chief, Pharm.D, R.Ph Adam Jackson confirming New Testament Bible removal, after MRFF's removal demand

From: "Jackson, Adam (Chillicothe)"
Subject: VA Athens Clinic Concern
Date: October 17, 2016 at 8:13:45 AM PDT
To: Mikey
Cc: "McManaway, Tina"

Hello,

I wanted to respond back as soon as possible to confirm with you that the Athens clinic has searched their waiting rooms and did find 1 bible. The Athens CBOC is unsure how this came into the clinic but it has been removed. The clinic did not find any other religious material and we routinely have environment of care rounding teams that look for such material. I did place 2 phone calls to your cell phone and they were answered by someone else. If you want to contact me directly at the phone and extension below feel free to do so.

Thank you

Adam Jackson, Pharm.D, R.Ph
Associate Chief, Primary and Preventive Care Line
Chillicothe VAMC
(phone number withheld)

(Emphasis added by editor)

 

Mikey's sincere thanks in response to Chillicothe VAMC's crucial New Testament Bible removal

From: Mikey
Subject: Re: VA Athens Clinic Concern
Date: October 17, 2016 at 9:02:59 AM PDT
To: "Jackson, Adam (Chillicothe)"
Cc: "McManaway, Tina"

Thank you very much Adam... I just landed in (city withheld)... I am sorry you were not able to get a hold of me while I was in the air... I just left a message for you... Please try me again on my regular number at xxx-xxx-xxxx... On be half of our honorable veteran clients, we sincerely thank you and your VA staff for removing the Bible and complying with the Constitution... respectively, Mikey Weinstein, Founder and President, Military Religious Freedom Foundation...

 

A heartfelt thank you to MRFF from the lead Retired U.S. Army Soldier who brought the issue of the New Testament Bible in Chillicothe VAMC's Mental Health Clinic to MRFF's attention

From: Retired U.S. Army Soldier's E-Mail Address Withheld
Date: October 17, 2016 at 12:01:18 PM PDT
To: Mikey
Subject: Thank You

To the MRFF,

Thank you for advocating on my behalf regarding the Bible in the Athens, OH VA and getting it removed in just a few hours. It may seem like a small thing to some, but to myself and other veterans here who were trained to pay attention to detail and do the right thing, it is greatly appreciated.

We live in times where the concept of religion being involved in government has been reintroduced as an option by many politicians. This basic constitutional concept that there should be a separation of church and state is something that we can no longer take for granted. As a combat veteran who fought personally to defend constitutional freedoms, this is important to me and I know it is important to many of my fellow veterans and soldiers as well.

I am glad the MRFF has become a champion of this cause- many soldiers and veterans alike may need an outside advocate to approach an issue like this, whether it's a bible in the waiting room or a plaque of the 10 commandments in a superior's office. Many of those soldiers and veterans may not know who to go to if they run into a problem like I did, and I hope they can take this example and know the MRFF is there to support them.

Thanks again,

VR

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

 


MRFF's RECENT NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE
REMOVAL VICTORIES

Unconstitutional Military & VA Religious Displays Removed Due to MRFF's Demands:

9/16/16 - New Testament Bible Removed from Eglin AFB,
FL Allergy Clinic Table

4/19/16 - New Testament Bible Removed from Tobyhanna, PA VA POW/MIA Table

4/11/16 - New Testament Bible Removed from Houston,
TX VA POW/MIA Table

4/8/16 - New Testament Bible Removed from Wright Patterson, OH POW/MIA Table

4/4/16 -New Testament Bible Removed from Youngstown, OH VA POW/MIA Table

2/25/16 - New Testament Bible Removed from Akron, OH
VA POW/MIA Table

 


Inbox logo

We receive an enormous amount of emails at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, both from our supporters and detractors.
Through "MRFF's Inbox," we share some of these emails with you.

Click to view MRFF's Inbox

 


Connect with MRFF:
Mikey Weinstein Facebook Page Mikey Weinstein Twitter Mikey Weinstein Youtube Channel

SUPPORT MRFF!

Your Generous Support Allows us to Continue
our Fight in the Courts and in the Media

The media outlets referenced in the links above (if applicable) don't have any affiliation with the
Military Religious Freedom Foundation, nor have expressed endorsement thereof.

While we make every effort to ensure that news articles pertaining to our Foundation remain available for you to access,
we are unable to guarantee that the link above will remain online and unchanged indefinitely.