AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -- A religious liberty advocate says he's satisfied with the Air Force Academy's efforts to investigate a possible case of religious harassment at the school.
Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said Friday the academy's top commanders are treating the incident seriously.
Earlier this month, academy officials launched an inquiry when a wooden cross was left at worship space for Earth-centered religions. One academy staffer called it a hate crime.
When the discovery of the cross was first made public, Weinstein expressed concerns about how the academy was treating the incident.
He said a conversation with the schools top commander reassured him about the investigation.
An academy spokeswoman says the incident is still under investigation. She had no estimates on when it would be completed.
On the Net: National Character and Leadership Symposium: http://www.usafa.edu/Commandant/cwc/cwcx/ncls/index.cfm?catname(equals)ncls
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Original story
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -- A longtime critic of the Air Force Academy's religious climate is speaking at the school two weeks after new concerns arose over harassment.
Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, is scheduled to appear Friday at the academy's National Character and Leadership Symposium.
Weinstein launched the foundation in 2005 after some cadets said they were ostracized because they weren't religious or had heard jokes about their beliefs.
Earlier this month, academy officials launched an inquiry when a wooden cross was left at worship space for Earth-centered religions. One academy staffer called it a hate crime.
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley made only a brief reference to religion during his comments, citing president Franklin Roosevelt's four freedoms, that include freedom of worship.
On the Net: National Character and Leadership Symposium: http://www.usafa.edu/Commandant/cwc/cwcx/ncls/index.cfm?catname(equa
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