The Marine Corps Times just released an outstanding story about us! Seriously… this is simply good reporting.
Two national atheist groups, and one advocating religious freedom, have complained to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus that officials at Camp Pendleton, Calif., continue to deny them access to the base while giving “preferential treatment” to Christian religious organizations, including a controversial church they say is steeped in “doomsday theology” and embroiled in sexual-abuse scandals.
…
They single out the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in Southern California, the mother church in a network of roughly 1,300 Calvary Chapel congregations nationwide. Its head pastor, Chuck Smith, has been mired in controversy for years, with critics blasting his teachings that center on predictions the apocalypse is near. He and other leaders within the congregation also have been accused of not doing enough to prevent the alleged molestation of several children.
“We are disturbed that the government is giving such extensive support, including assets, resources and personnel, to a single sect of Christianity,” the three groups wrote in their letter to Mabus. “Even more troubling is the ‘doomsday’ nature of the CCCM. … The last thing Camp Pendleton needs is a large group of well-armed Marines convinced of an imminent doomsday crisis.”
Smith told Marine Corps Times that said he hadn’t seen the letter — but he scoffed at any characterization of his church as doomsday-focused. CCCM, he said, supports “a pretty strong ministry” for Marines at Camp Pendleton, and he does not oppose other organizations, include nonreligious groups, accessing the base.
“We have men that go down [to Camp Pendleton] and we provide food for the fellows and … parties and picnics for them and their families,” Smith said. “We do spend quite a bit of money helping them.”
I’m impressed at the neutrality, and ethical journalism at the Marine Corps Times. I don’t mean that as an under-handed compliment – this reporter did a fantastic job all around.
Please read the rest of the article, and comment there. We’ve generated a few trolls already!
(This is a randomly chosen cover image from an old issue. FYI – Paul Loebe had to ‘Request Mast‘ for his involvement in RBB2. Someday you’ll hear the whole story. Maybe.)
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F
August 14, 2012 at 12:02 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“Ray Mabus”
I’m sorry, but no fuckin way. It’s taking me a couple of minutes to get past “Mabus” here. No offense to Secretary Ray intended.
That is a decently neutral and well-written article.
I don’t find that much of an admission to buying influence, though.
steve84
August 14, 2012 at 10:32 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“We do spend quite a bit of money converting them.”
There. Fixed.
John Kieffer
August 14, 2012 at 10:45 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Problem for the commander of this Marine base is that if such access is permitted for evangelical Christians such as this end-times pastor, then equal time must be provided, if requested, to a Muslim cleric preaching an end times prophesy (vis: the Shi-ite belief in the soon coming apocalyptic appearance of the 12th Imam, ie: “Mahdi,” etc).
Does the Marine Corps/military really have the time and resources to engage in these sorts of constitutional issues, court battles, image/security problems that this would create?
If it does, then Marine Corps has way too much time and resources on its hands, if not simply some very simplistic, unqualified commanders running things.
DoomCember
October 2, 2012 at 10:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The end is always near but never seems to get here.
Doomsday Prophet Admits to Buying Influence at Marine Corps Base | Disinformation
August 22, 2012 at 4:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Via Rock Beyond Belief: [...]
Doomsday Prophet Admits to Buying Influence at Camp Pendleton « Content Curated By Darin R. McClure & a few photos
August 23, 2012 at 10:17 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Via Rock Beyond Belief:Apocalyptic Christian groups have long proselytized within the United States military fostering an underlying mythos of worldwide destruction and Manifest Destiny that provides a continuum with the political rhetoric of theoconservatives. The drive to self-fulfill prophecy becomes the fodder for irrational fear based domestic politics and the justification for foreign policies that create enemies out of innocents.It is time that the endeavors of religious organizations to infiltrate and influence the workings of the military and the state apparatus are exposed.Fortunately the Army thought Foxhole Atheist Justin Griffith needed ‘remedial Spiritual Fitness Training’ and suggested he write a blog… He writes at Rock Beyond Belief: “Two national atheist groups, and one advocating religious freedom, have complained to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus that officials at Camp Pendleton, Calif., continue to deny them access to the base while giving “preferential treatment” to Christian religious organizations, including a controversial church they say is steeped in “doomsday theology” and embroiled in sexual-abuse scandals.”“We are disturbed that the government is giving such extensive support, including assets, resources and personnel, to a single sect of Christianity,” the three groups wrote in their letter to Mabus. “Even more troubling is the ‘doomsday’ nature of the CCCM. … The last thing Camp Pendleton needs is a large group of well-armed Marines convinced of an imminent doomsday crisis.” [...]