By 1812Blockhouse
The City of Mansfield is the most recent target of a Wisconsin group seeing to, as it states, “free” the country “from religion.”
In specific, the Mansfield Police Department is being urged to halt its police chaplaincy program immediately, according to a report posted today by CBN, the Christian Broadcasting Network.
In an article entitled “’Unconstitutional’: Atheists Target Police Chaplains, Demand Ohio Department Immediately Halt Program,” the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) of Madison, Wisconsin, was the entity that made the demand. The article included a link to a letter from the Foundation President to Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch.
In its letter, the Foundation stated that the program is unconstitutional and opens up the Department to the potential of a discrimination lawsuit.
According to its website, the FFRF “… works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church.” The Foundation has posted on the subject in a July 22 article entitled “Discontinue police chaplaincy, FFRF advises Ohio police department.” In that article, reference is made to comments made in a profile on Mansfield’s police chaplain public in a local newspaper.
Mansfield is not the only Ohio community with a police chaplaincy program. Galion’s new chaplain was sworn in on Tuesday night, replacing a long-term minister who retired.
The City of Cleveland has a team of police chaplains, with six being sworn in this past November. Columbus recently expanded their chaplaincy program.
The FRFF has also acted in opposition to a public nativity display in Dover, as well as the presence of a cross in the logo for the City of Steubenville.
