Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has sent a follow-up letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper raising his concerns about "religious discrimination" in the Department of Defense (DOD) and how the department should address "its culture of hostility towards religion."
"The Department must do better. It must take affirmative steps to stop those in its ranks from targeting religious individuals and violating the United States Constitution," Cruz said in the letter, according to Fox News.
The Texas senator specifically asked about the case of Christian Air Force veteran Jay Lorenzen, who was scheduled to speak at an annual training event for Marine Corps (USMC) JAG reservists last month. Lorenzen's presentation was canceled after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) voiced its reservist clients' concerns that Lt. Col. Lorenzen's comments would be influenced by his beliefs.
Lorenzen was scheduled to make three presentations on leadership at the training event.
In the letter, Cruz reminded Esper the Constitution protects the "free exercise" of religion.
"The First Amendment unambiguously protects the 'free exercise' of religion. More to the point, it protects 'religious observers against unequal treatment... on the basis of religious status.' The government is prohibited from discriminating against individuals based on their religious faith or religious practice. Nevertheless, the Department is unabashedly discriminating against religious individuals," the senator wrote.
"The Department must do better," Cruz added. "It must take affirmative steps to stop those in its ranks from targeting religious individuals and violating the United States Constitution. Our brave servicemen and women deserve to have their religious and spiritual needs met without fear that their faith will subject them to special burdens."
First Liberty Institute, which represents a JAG reservist opposed to the cancellation, told Fox News that Lorenzen wouldn't have included religious elements in his talk. Lorenzen himself has declined to comment on the situation.
"We are grateful for Sen. Cruz's tireless defense of religious liberty and his dedication to our service members," First Liberty Special Counsel Jeremy Dys said on Monday. "He is due an answer for why the Department of Defense appears to be 'vetting' speakers according to their religion. No one should be canceled because of their religious beliefs."
In his letter, Cruz also asked Esper to provide him with the answers to the following three questions by Monday, Aug. 10 ...
