Associated Press Article on SECDEF Pick Pete Hegseth Features Mikey Weinstein and MRFF Advisory Board Member Larry Wilkerson

Wednesday Afternoon, December 4, 2024

ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP) ARTICLE ON

SECDEF PICK PETE HEGSETH FEATURES

MRFF PRESIDENT MIKEY WEINSTEIN AND

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER LARRY WILKERSON

The Associated Press turned to MRFF as the preeminent

voice on protecting religious freedom in the military

for its article on Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for Secretary of

Defense — a rabid Christian nationalist who believes a “holy war”

is “required” in America, led by “crusader in chief, Donald Trump.”

Photo by Gage Skidmore (Licensed under CC BY 4.0)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COVERS MRFF

US military takes pride in religious diversity. Would things change if Pete Hegseth takes charge?

By: Peter Smith

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Article excerpts (emphasis added):

Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said Hegseth “promotes the concept of fundamentalist Christian dominance and supremacy.”

Weinstein, an Air Force veteran, said military personnel have the right to practice and proclaim their faith – but within constitutional restrictions on the “time, place and manner” of such expressions.

“Christian nationalists like Hegseth believe there are no limits on when they can deploy their faith,” Weinstein said.

Larry Wilkerson, a retired colonel with 31 years in the military and an advisory board member of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said Hegseth is an alarming choice.

“Diversity is a strength, but you’ve got to know how to lead it,” said Wilkerson, a former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell. “You don’t do it by forcing the majority’s or even a large minority’s views on them.”

Click to read article on The Associated Press