What is so offensive or appalling about the Holy Bible that a government department of the United States has decided to remove them state-run clinics?
Christian groups and other religious organisations are strongly opposing the blanket removal of Bibles from several U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical clinics and at least one Air Force base.
Copies of the Holy Book have earlier been placed in federal properties as part of the "Missing Man" displays meant to pay tribute to prisoners of war and American soldiers who have gone missing in action.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, however, gave in to the demand of the non-profit group Military Religious Freedom Foundation not to put these Holy Bibles on display. The group claimed that allowing copies of the Holy Scriptures on federal properties constitutes a violation of laws banning the imposition of a religious belief on service members.
Several groups, however, sent a letter to Robert McDonald, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, expressing opposition to the removal of the Bibles from federal clinics.
The groups wrote that this decision by the government department is an affront to prisoners of war.
"The removal of the Bible not only violates the integrity of these displays, but insults those returned POWs who gained daily strength from their faith in the prisons of our enemies," the coalition stated in its letter to McDonald.
"When a governmental agency such as the VA removes any part of the display, it is a grave insult to the nation's veterans who often gather together to honor those who have not returned, while also interfering with the message being expressed," the groups added, as quoted by WND.
The following concerned groups constitute the coalition opposing the removal of the Bibles: the Family Research Council, the American Family Association, First Liberty Institute, the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, the Center for Military Readiness, the Freedom Alliance, and Liberty Counsel.
The coalition also include the Alliance for Defending Freedom, Freedom X, Judicial Watch, LION Associates, Military-Veterans Advocacy, Stand Up America US and the International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers.
Retired Lt. Gen. William Boykin, who serves as executive vice president of the Family Research Council, said he signed the letter because he could not understand how the government department acceded to the demand of a single group.
"It's a sad situation that a guy would actually try to destroy the traditions of our military and the basic values of our country," Boykin said.
