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The work of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) has never been more important. As a journalist, I’ve covered the encroachment of religiosity and religious institutions into American and other governments for years. It’s now at crisis levels with a more aggressive agenda than ever.
The elevation of religious beliefs over democratic principles was rejected in the nation's founding and is one of the principle threats against it identified by American leaders and thinkers ever since. And yet, our government, our media, and our culture are woefully negligent about combating religious incursions into America’s most important, powerful bodies, most notably the United States military: The worst conceivable institution imaginable to harbor Christian nationalism and extremism.
Too many people assume that someone is watching these walls, and yet especially in the military the disincentives against reporting those incursions are virtually overwhelming. Many are unique to the military.
In my work as a journalist I can’t recall seeing any other civil rights advocacy organization come to the defense of the First Amendment in a military context. It’s the MRFF. Almost exclusively. It’s not just the work that’s essential, it’s the fact that we have no other sentinels.
MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein is rabidly committed to the people whose rights have been violated. And also to ethics in the fight. Discussing the prospect of joining the board, Mikey insisted that I disclose my membership in stories related to the MRFF, which of course I will.
It’s an honor to join the MRFF advisory board. As its first journalist I look forward to contributing and helping to raise greater awareness of the MRFF's vital work on these crucial issues.
Jonathan Larsen
Journalist
Formerly ABC, CNN, MSNBC, and UPI.
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