“Everyone knows that we here at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation have had MORE than our share of “remove the Christian bible” fights from many different fora through the years in the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration.
Just a couple of weeks ago, in fact, MRFF had success in getting a military commander to remove the Christian bible from a POW/MIA Table display.
And, today, I am most pleased to salute the fine senior leadership at the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for doing likewise to a display of Christian bibles and related Christian reading materials on prominent display in its “Patriot Store” facility located on the first floor of the main medical building.
MRFF had been contacted by 10 VAMC employees and/or patient complainants (11, including myself, as that facility, also provides my own medical care), 7 of whom identify as avid practitioners of the Christian faith. These folks reached out to MRFF for help regarding the unconstitutionality of that sectarian Christian literature display; especially as it was juxtaposed right next to an otherwise non-objectionable display of “secular-ish” chocolate Easter bunnies related holiday candy and Easter bunny cutouts et al.
That display of Christian bibles and associated Christian reading materials completely violated the time, place, and manner restrictions of the VA’s own regulations as well as the No Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights and its construing Federal caselaw.
On behalf of MRFF’s courageous clients, I paid a personal visit to a key member of the senior leadership at this VAMC. I explained MRFF’s objections to this clearly sectarian Christian display. We chatted productively and quite amicably for about half an hour, and the senior staff member could NOT have been more hospitable, understanding, and professional. He promised me that he would meet with the Acting Director of the whole VAMC facility right away and make a case for immediate removal of that illicit display table with its Christian reading materials.
This senior leader was as good as his word. He kept in touch with me via several follow-up phone calls, the last of which confirmed that the display had been removed, not more than 24 hours after MRFF’s initial request!
Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that I’ve had nothing but spectacular medical care at this Albuquerque VAMC, and now I am able to also describe that same facility’s support of the separation of church and state as mandated in our country’s beautiful Constitution to be JUST as stellar!
Hats off to the senior leadership of Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Raymond G. Murphy VAMC, and to the intrepidity of MRFF’s ten clients who either work right there or, like me, are grateful patients there!”
