A Bible and bible verse have been removed from the POW/MIA display inside an Ohio VA clinic
The religious artifacts were part of a “Missing Man Table” recently erected by volunteers at an outpatient clinic in Akron.
Complaints about the display came from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein alleged the inclusion of the Bible was a violation of the U.S. Constitution. He said he intervened at the request of nearly a dozen, mostly Christian, military veterans who utilize the clinic.
However, clinic administrator Brian Reinhart said to his knowledge no one ever complained. Todd Starnes, writing about the story for Fox News says that makes Weinstein’s allegations a bit dubious.
Nevertheless, Reinhart relented and evicted God’s Word from the display.
He sent a letter to Weinstein that stated, “I just wanted to let you know that the Bible has been removed from our POW table and the Bible verse has been removed from the framed scripture.”
Reinhart told Fox news that he alone was responsible for ordering the Bible removed from the display based of Weinstein’s claim that several veterans were concerned.
But Starnes contends the claim should have been verified.
Ron Crews, the executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty said MIA/POW tables have been part of military tradition for generations and they have always included a Bible.
The official Navy blog clearly identifies the Bible as a significant part of the Missing Man Table & Honors Ceremony.