ICC Note: Following complaints from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), a Veterans Administration clinic recently removed a Bible from a traditional display commemorating members of the military who are missing in action and prisoners of war. MRFF’s president, Mikey Weinstein, reported that he received several complaints regarding the Bible and contacted the clinic about the matter. Although the MRFF was satisfied with the outcome, many have stated that the clinic should not have given into the group’s demands.

By Heather Clark

03/01/2016 United States (Christian News Network) – A Veterans Administration clinic in Ohio has removed a Bible from a display honoring prisoners of war (POW) and those missing in action (MIA) following a complaint from a church-state separation group.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), led by its controversial president, Mikey Weinstein, claims that it had received complaints from 11 patients at the Akron clinic, seven of whom identified themselves as being Christian.

“Did I miss out on the memo that America was a theocracy and we are all supposed to be worshiping Jesus Christ?” one reportedly stated. “[I]t seems the vast majority of Christians want to make everything about them.”

The display at issue was a “missing man table” that included a place setting, a rose, a candle and a Bible, along with a framed Bible verse. The table had been set by area volunteers in honor of POW’s and those MIA.

Weinstein contacted the clinic after receiving the alleged complaints. Facility administrator Brian Reinhart told reporters that he had not heard any objections the presence of the Bible other than from Weinstein.

However, after receiving a call from MRFF, he agreed to remove the Bible and accompanying message.

“In discussing it with the volunteers, we thought as though it was the best course of action since several veterans did express concerns [to Weinstein] regarding it,” Reinhart told Fox’s Todd Starnes.

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