June 29, 2005
For Immediate Release
For More Information, Contact: Bryan Rudnick, Media Relations Coordinator at 561-499-3201
JEWS AGAINST ANTI-CHRISTIAN DEFAMATION APPALLED BY ADL’S ATTEMPT TO BAN MEALTIME PRAYER AT NAVAL ACADEMY
Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation President Don Feder said he was appalled by the Anti-Defamation League’s attempt to end prayers before lunch at the U.S. Naval Academy.
According to a report in The Washington Post, in a recent letter to the Academy’s Superintendent, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman demanded that Naval Academy stop holding prayers before lunch for midshipmen.
"Where does Abe Foxman get off telling the future defenders of America that they can’t say grace before meals?" Feder asked. "These prayers are voluntary. Observances are led by one of the academy’s Catholic, Protestant or Jewish chaplains. What’s the big deal?"
"Does Foxman object to military chaplains per se? Is he opposed to opening sessions of Congress with a prayer? By his reasoning, isn’t that coercive as well? What about those who want to witness an inauguration being ‘forced’ to see the president take his oath of office on a Bible?"
Feder continued: "Has Foxman seen pictures of troops in Iraq praying in the field? Maybe he’d like to stop that too. Perhaps he thinks atheists standing nearby will feel coerced or be offended."
Feder observed: "The ADL is a liberal group with a liberal agenda. It’s obsessed with purging religion - even in its mildest manifestations - from our public life. Abe Foxman and company truly believe that religion is a threat to democracy and pluralism, instead of the foundation of a free republic."
"Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation wants the American people to know that there are Jews who understand that the First Amendment was never intended to prohibit public expressions of faith, and who believe that religion makes America stronger," Feder declared.
Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation was organized to combat anti-Christian bias in government, the news media, Hollywood, public education and from activist groups. For more information, go to www.jews4fairness.org.
Commentary | JAACD in the News | e-Alert Sign-Up | Donations | Contact Us
| Website designed and built by Jamie Todd, info@jamietodd.com | ©2004-2006 Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation |