August 14, 2007, FOX Special Report

WATCH THE REPORT HERE

JIM ANGLE, FOX NEWS ANCHOR:  Seven current or former U.S. military officers have been found in violation of ethics rules for appearing in uniform in a promotional video for a Christian evangelical group. The Defense Department inspector general says the video created a misleading impression that the Pentagon endorsed the group. National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Through Bible studies, discipleship, prayer breakfast and out reach events, Christian Embassy is mustering these men and women into an intentional relationship with Jesus Christ.

JENNIFER GRIFFIN, FOX NEWS NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): This is the video that landed seven U.S. military officers in hot water, for appearing in uniform while espousing their faith in Jesus, and violating a government ethics regulation regarding the endorsement of a non-governmental organization.

The Pentagon inspector general concluded, quote, military officers who appeared in a promotional video for Christian Embassy improperly endorsed and participated with a non-federal entity while in uniform."

The Christian Embassy has organized voluntary Christian fellowship prayer meetings inside the Pentagon since 1978, leading many of the video's participants to believe that it was, in fact, sanctioned by the Pentagon.

COL RALPH BENSON (RET), FORMER PENTAGON CHAPLAIN: We are in a world- wide war on terrorism. What more do we need than Christian people leading us.

GRIFFIN: Pentagon Chaplain Ralph Benson arranged the video shoot for the Christian Embassy. The inspector general now says he should be punished. Benson and his lawyer say his participation should be protected under the constitution's Establishment and Free Exercise clause.

ROBERT ASH, AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW & JUSTICE:: The First Amendment doesn't stop when somebody puts on a uniform. In this case, this was a private film aimed at a private audience. And it was just thanking a ministry that has been performing marvelously at their own expense, assisting the chaplains for 25 years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Christian Embassy really gives us a tremendous opportunity here in the Pentagon.

GRIFFIN: It was the participation of Brigadier General Vince Brooks, the former head of Army public affairs, and other uniformed officers that motivated Mikey Weinstein, an Air Force veteran of 10 years, who founded MilitaryReligiousFreedom.org, to file a complaint.

MIKEY WEINSTEIN, MILITARYRELIGIOUSFREEDOM.ORG: You put on the U.S. military uniform, as a couple of Air Force academy professors have recently stated, there is only one religion and that religious faith is called patriotism.

GRIFFIN: Weinstein's group says it wants to reestablish the division between church and state in the corridors of the Pentagon. He derogatively refers to the Pentagon as the Pentacostle-gon. So when can an officer espouse his faith in god in uniform?

WEINSTEIN: You can pray as much as you want to, but you can't force it on a helpless subordinate. In the U.S. military today, if you're being even gently evangelized by your military superior, get out of my damn face, sir or ma'am, is not an option for you.

ASH: I think it is ironic in this case that men and women who put on the uniform to defend our rights to free exercise, to free speech and everything else, now are having the tables turned on them and being denied that same right themselves.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: The officers whom I have spoken to, who were mentioned in the report, say that they did not know that the video was not authorized. They thought they had permission because the request came through the Chaplain's office and the Christian Embassy has been operating in the Pentagon for so many years.