Pentagon 'stiff-arms' Christians, endorses Islam

Pentagon 'stiff-arms' Christians, endorses Islam

A Pentagon advisor and national defense analyst says it's hypocritical for the Pentagon Inspector General's office to find four generals guilty of misconduct for endorsing a Christian ministry, while saying nothing about military officials who tacitly endorse Islam.

Recently a chaplain from the Army Chief of Chaplain's office appeared as the keynote speaker at a conference of the Islamic Society of North America. And in 2006, a deputy secretary of defense and the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps opened an Islamic center at Quantico, Virginia, with great fanfare and praise.

But Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis (U.S. Army-Ret.) says while promoting Islam is apparently just fine, four Army generals have been found guilty of using their influence to promote a Pentagon ministry known as the Christian Embassy, started by Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright.

"I think given the federal government's stiff-arming of Christian organizations, that this is especially egregious in that they're showing favoritism toward Islam -- which is an incredibly small minority in this country -- to the exclusion of [Christianity], which is the vast majority of the country," says Maginnis. "Now the fact that a senior official has spoken at their conference, as far as I am concerned, means tacit endorsement."

Maginnis says under the circumstances, the Christian general officers should be cleared of any wrongdoing for their appearance in the video promoting Christian Embassy.