DENVER — Religious intolerance is systemic and pervasive at the U.S. Air Force Academy and, if nothing changes, it could result in "prolonged and costly" litigation, according to a report issued Thursday by a group advocating strict separation of church and state.
The 14-page report listed incidents of mandatory prayers, proselytizing by teachers, insensitivity to religious minorities and allegations that evangelical Christianity is the preferred faith at the institution.
"I think this is the most serious, military-related systemic problem I have ever seen in the decades I've been doing this work," said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "There is a clear preference for Christianity at the academy, so that everyone else feels like a second-class citizen."
Lynn sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld asking for a prompt investigation.
"If we hear nothing in 30 days, we will consider litigation and trying to get more forceful oversight by the relevant congressional committees," he said.
A spokesman for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., declined to comment Thursday.
"It would be inappropriate to comment because this was sent to the secretary of Defense and not to the Air Force Academy," said Lt. Col. Laurent Fox.
But the academy -- which is recovering from rape and sexual assault scandals that broke out there two years ago -- has acknowledged that some individuals have gone too far in pushing their faith. There have been 55 complaints of religious insensitivity over the last four years, often made by cadets who feel evangelical Christians dominate the institution.
Military officials now are warning teachers not to promote their religion in the classroom, while telling cadets to be careful how and when they share their faith. Special classes on respecting religious diversity have become mandatory for students and employees.
Americans United talked to current and former cadets and in the report said that it found evidence of a problem stretching to the very highest levels of the academy.
The report's authors were told that cadets who refused to attend chapel after dinner were marched by upperclassmen back to their dorms in a ritual called "heathen flight." They found that teachers introduced themselves as "born again" Christians and invited students to be saved as well. A history instructor ordered students to pray before a final exam, the report said. And a Christmas greeting in the base newspaper said Jesus was the only hope for the world; it was signed by 300 people, including 16 heads or deputy heads of academic departments, nine professors, the dean of faculty and the football coach.
