Lance Corporal Monifa Sterling was court-martialed because she refused to remove a Bible verse from her work space. She stood on the notion that her right to religious freedom followed her into the workplace, including her service to her country as a Marine.
A former Marine court-martialed in part for refusing to remove a biblical phrase from her work space lost her appeal on Wednesday, when a federal court concluded the orders from her superiors did not constitute a “substantial burden” on her First Amendment rights.
The U.S. Appeals Court rejected her case. She will be appealing to the United States Supreme Court in the upcoming weeks, her legal advocacy group First Liberty Institute stated.
At issue is the extent a federal law on religious freedom protects members of the Armed Forces. The intersection of free speech on government property, especially within a military context, has made this case closely watched by a number of advocates on both sides of the debate.
Sterling was ultimately reduced in rank and given a bad-conduct discharge — and later left the service.
The judges in her case did not think her actions demonstrated sincerely held religious beliefs.
Several judges hearing the case at a 45-minute oral argument in April seemed skeptical Sterling had done enough to assert her right to post the messages.
That came in out in the Wednesday ruling: “In this case, the record does not clearly address whether [Sterling’s] conduct was based on a ‘sincerely held religious belief’ or motivated by animosity toward her chain of command.”
If she is willing to lose her career over keeping these verses up, then her beliefs must have been sincerely held.
“If the government can order a Marine not to display a Bible verse, they could try and order her not to get a religious tattoo, or go to church on Sunday,” Michael Berry, an attorney for the Liberty Institute, claimed in a statement. “Restricting a Marine’s free exercise of religion is blatantly unconstitutional.”
Source: Fox News
This is bull. You don’t give up!
The military is very diverse. Religion is about a community of people who have some type of common affinity. For instance the misunderstanding between the Protestants and Catholics still didn’t find a common ground. Openly practicing a religion is best for civilians. The conviviality among the troops in the military is very important for a positive cohesion and safety. Getting religion out of the military is the best decision.
This so wrong.
If she wanted to wear a head scarf as a muslim she would be hero.
This goes back to obama leader of the military. He know whats going on and is pandering to the mussys destroying this girls life with a dishonerable discharge. Hillary will do the same. Vote Trump!
You’re an idiot.
Stay in your bubble. You will learn more.
Ugh. Once again. This is all utter b******t. This$#%&!@*was already up on a list of charges from disobeying a direct order to unauthorized absence to not being at an appointed place of duty. Chose a courts martial over NJP against her lawyers advice and posted all her “religious quotes” on a shared desk, after the fact, in violation of standing orders.
This worthless sack of$#%&!@*shouldn’t have been wearing my uniform in the first place.
It’s all there in the transcripts of her courts martial, which is public record. $#%&!@*her.
GySgt retired.
Their are no atheists in fox holes…sorry… everyone crys for god…