Fort Bragg Will Hold Christian Concert Despite Church-state Group Protests
By Joseph C. DeCaro
RALEIGH, N.C. (Worthy News)– A Christian concert open to the public will be held at Fort Bragg despite protests from a national group that claims it’s a violation of the so-called separation between church and state.
According to Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, “Rock the Post” will be open to the general public, and base chaplains have already asked local churches for assitance with the event.
Fort Bragg went from an open post accesible to the public without escort, to a closed post the day after the 9/11 attacks.
“There is no legitimate interest in having the Army act like a church,” said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “This partnership is way over the line.”
However, since freedom of worship is a constitutional right, the US military must provide the means for service personnel to practice it, either by holding services on base, or providng a means of transportation to off-base facillities: during deployment, the latter isn’t always possible, so the military is mandated to provide religious services through its own chaplains and religious facilities. Chaplains service not only their own denomination, but all faiths.
“Rock the Post” presents Christian music and motivational speakers; it’s organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and performs at military bases nationwide.