DOJ Defunds La. Military Youth Program Over Religious Content
The sheriff of Bossier Parish, Louisiana, has decided that a local chapter of the Young Marines youth outreach his department sponsors will continue with the tradition of prayer, and will continue reciting an oath that embraces faith in God, despite the fact that those actions will cost the organization about $30,000 a year in funding from the federal Department of Justice (DOJ).
The outreach to youth in Bossier Parish is part of the national Young Marines program, which describes itself as a “youth education and service program” that “promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members.” Among their duties as members, Young Marine participants vow to “keep myself clean in mind by attending the church of my faith.” They are also required to recite the following oath upon joining: “From this day forward, I sincerely promise, I will set an example for all other youth to follow and I...