Atheist’s lawsuit against DoD dismissed

Atheist’s lawsuit against DoD dismissed
By John Milburn - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 8, 2010 6:23:11 EST

TOPEKA, Kan. — A federal judge in Kansas dismissed a lawsuit Thursday by an atheist soldier who claimed his rights were violated because he had to attend events where prayers were said while stationed at Fort Riley.

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil ruled Army Spc. Dustin Chalker failed to exhaust all other alternatives before he and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation sued the Department of Defense in 2008.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation said Chalker’s case reflected a pattern of religious intolerance and proselytizing by members of the armed forces. Mikey Weinstein, president of the Albuquerque, N.M., foundation, said an appeal of the ruling would be filed with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

“It’s a shame because Dustin did all that he could,” Weinstein said.

The Justice Department declined to comment about the ruling. Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez also declined to comment specifically about it but said the Pentagon doesn’t endorse any religion or religious organization and allows service members to practice their faith of choice.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/ap_atheist_lawsuit_dismissed_010710/