COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — After Air Force Maj. Steve Lewis was investigated over placing an open Bible on his desk at an Air Force base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, officials at the base ruled that Lewis was within the rules and was allowed to keep his Bible displayed.
American secular organization, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, called for Lewis to be “aggressively punished” for placing an open Bible on his desk, saying that it violates the separation of Church and state.
Officials at Peterson Air Force Base said in an Aug. 24 statement, “We have concluded no abuse of liberties has occured, and Maj. Lewis’ behavior and the workplace environment … are well within the provisions of Air Force Institution 1–1, Air Force Standards, paragraphs 2.11 and 2.12 — ‘Free Excercise of Religion and Religious Accomodation’ and ‘Balance of Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clause.’”
Col. Damon Feltman reported that Lewis had voluntarily removed the Bible from the desk when asked, as he did not wish for it “to cause attention or disruption to his unit.”
“The basic premise of the Air Force instruction [on religious freedom] … is people have an inherent right ot free exercise of religion within boundaries,” Feltman said. (TAB)
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