TheBlaze.com - ‘Rock the Fort’: Will Religious Concert at Fort Bragg Violate th

I thought you would like this story from TheBlaze.com http://www.theblaze.com/stories/rock-the-fort-will-religious-concert-at-fort-bragg-violate-the-constitution/    'Rock the Fort': Will Religious Concert at Fort Bragg Violate the Constitution?   Posted on September 25, 2010 at 1:45am by Scott Baker   FORT BRAGG  (AP)  A Christian event on Saturday for Fort Bragg soldiers and members of the surrounding area is unconstitutional and should be canceled, according to a national watchdog group. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State said in a statement Thursday that the planned event — a concert and other activities called "Rock the Fort" — improperly enlists the military in a bid by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to win Christian converts. The Charlotte-based ministry has sponsored similar events on military bases around the country. According to the BGEA's website, Saturday's event in Fayetteville is different because civilians as well as military personnel will be able to attend. "Chaplains at the fort identified 20 churches in the area where most soldiers are involved," the site says. "The churches are now walking alongside chaplains from Fort Bragg, hosting training and praying for this event." The site describes "Rock the Fort" as a chance to hear evangelists speak as well as listen to music by such Christian artists as Hawk Nelson and God Rocks. There's also a planned set of activities for children. Bragg, which is home to the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Forces, has about 45,000 people living on post. In a letter to Secretary of the Army John McHugh sent Thursday, lawyers for Americans United urged that the event be canceled. "The military's participation in a religious event designed to proselytize soldiers and the community departs from the Army's obligation to maintain 'official religious neutrality,"' the attorneys wrote. A call to the BGEA was referred to Fort Bragg. Calls to the post's Public Affairs Office were not immediately returned Thursday. In its letter to McHugh, Americans United included a letter on Army stationery bearing the signature of Fort Bragg Garrison Chaplain David Hillis. The letter, dated June 2, is addressed to area Christian pastors, asking for assistance with "this unifying Christian event." Americans United contends that chaplains in the military are restricted to holding religious services and making other accommodations for soldiers who want to practice their faith while serving in the Army. "'Rock the Fort' is not an event designed to minister to the needs of soldiers unable to otherwise access religious services," the letter to McHugh says. "Rather, it is an event designed to proselytize soldiers and community members into the worship of Jesus Christ." Carl Ray Louk "FRIENDSHIP NEVER ENDS" SG-1996 "LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY" SG-2000 "THE PHOENIX SHALL RISE" SD "EVEN A MAN WHO IS PURE IN HEART AND SAYS HIS PRAYERS BY NIGHT, MAY BECOME A WOLF WHEN THE WOLFBANE BLOOMS AND THE AUTUMN MOON IS BRIGHT." LT-1941 "FLESH OF MY FLESH; BLOOD OF MY BLOOD; KIN OF MY KIN WHEN SAY COME TO YOU, YOU SHALL CROSS LAND OR SEA TO DO MY BIDDING!" CVTD-1895 "FROM HELL'S HEART I STAB AT THEE, FOR HATE SAKE I SPIT MY LAST BREATH AT THEE" CA-1895  "I HAVE BEEN, AND ALWAYS SHALL BE YOUR FRIEND" Spock  "TRICK OR TREAT, TRICK OR TREAT CANDY IS DANDY BUT MURDER, OH MURDER, IS SO SWEET" CRL-2003  "EYE OF NEWT, AND TOE OF FROG, WOOL OF BAT, AND TONGUE OF DOG ADDER'S FORK, BLIND-WORM'S STING, LIZARD'S LEG, AND OWLET'S WING. FOR A CHARM OF POWERFUL TROUBLE, LIKE A HELL-BROTH BOIL AND BABBLE. DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE, FIRE BURN, AND CALDRON BUBBLE" WS MySpace.com: www.myspace.com/carlraylouk http://www.myspace.com/carlraylouk Yahoo Group: Yahoo! Groups : LouksHauntedGraveyardhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/LouksHauntedGraveyard/ Yahoo Group: Yahoo! Groups : TheWorldAccordingtoCarlRayLouk http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheWorldAccordingtoCarlRayLouk/