In a no-holds-barred statement of anti-Semitism at the end of an article published by the Washington Headquarters Service of the Department of Defense for Easter this year, a Navy chaplain gives his take on the crucifixion of Jesus — the Jews killed him and should apologize.
Hell no, according to Chaplain Rivera. None of that namby-pamby modern Christian sentiment for the manly-man first Christians!
Peter addressed the “Men of Israel” — a.k.a. the Jews — telling them: “you crucified and killed” Jesus.
After quoting several verses from the second chapter of Acts, Chaplain Rivera summarizes his interpretation of those verses, addressed to the “Men of Israel,” writing (emphasis added):
On behalf of 32 high-ranking military members and DoD civilian employees in the greater Washington, D.C. area, 24 of whom are Jewish, who are understandably outraged at this blatant anti-Semitism purveyed by the Department of Defense’s Washington Headquarters Service, Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) founder and president Mikey Weinstein has sent the following email to Regina F. Meiners, the acting director of the Washington Headquarters Service, demanding that, rather than an apology from the Jews for killing Jesus, the Washington Headquarters Service apologize for condoning and spreading Chaplain Rivera’s anti-Semitic poison.
From: Michael L Weinstein
Subject: Antisemitic Article Published by DoD/WHS: MRFF Demand Letter
Date: April 27, 2021 at 12:34:10 PM MDT
To: regina.f.meiners.civ@mail.mil
Cc: david.l.norquist.civ@mail.mil, lisa.w.hershman.civ@mail.mil, Mark.a.milley.mil@mail.mil, john.e.hyten.mil@mail.mil, michael.m.gilday.mil@mail.mil, thomas.w.harker.civ@mail.mil, david.h.berger.mil@mail.mil, charles.q.brown3.mil@mail.mil, john.p.roth22.civ@mail.mil, james.c.mcconville3.mil@mail.mil, john.e.whitley2.civ@mail.mil, Information Weinstein
Regina F. Meiners
Acting Director
Department of Defense
Washington Headquarters Service
Dear Ms. Meiners,
Please see this despicable article that was published on March 30, 2021, under YOUR authority as the Acting Director of the DoD Washington Headquarters Service:
https://www.whs.mil/News/News-Display/Article/2556111/what-did-the-people-talk-about-at-the-first-easter
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) is representing 32 Washington D.C.-area military and civilian DoD members, 24 of whom are Jewish, regarding this defamatory outrage published under your clear authority.
As America still reels on a daily basis from the horrific shock of extremist hate from every corner of our Land, now comes this stunningly antisemitic article printed, not even a month ago, in apparent celebration of Easter by the official Department of Defense (DoD), Washington Headquarters Service.
This putrid filth, spewing and egging on the basic foundations of the ancient hated of the Jewish people as “Christ Killers,” is simply one of the most antisemitic, Old School Jew-baiting pieces of defamatory trash we have seen here at MRFF in a very long time.
Yet once again, the Mother Ship of fundamentalist Christianity rears its repugnant head, this time in an official DoD Headquarters internet publication written by a United States Navy officer/chaplain for ALL the world to see.
And what is its main filthy theme or thesis?
It is, quite literally, to SOLELY blame the Jewish people (”Men of Israel”) for the gruesome execution of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Ms. Meiners, this wretched screed is absolutely base, evil, vile, hateful bigotry and rapacious racism being vomited out of the mouth of this U.S. military officer/chaplain/author and fully endorsed by your official high profile DoD news and information outlet, the DoD’s Washington Headquarters Service.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation demands that U.S. Navy Chaplain (Lt.) Rivera, who is also a West Point graduate, and anyone else who is either directly or indirectly responsible for this mind-blowing, dishonorable, and malevolent publishing of abject prejudice, be aggressively investigated and visibly punished with immediate, due swiftness by the Department of Defense.
Additionally, MRFF further demands an immediate and heartfelt apology in writing from the DoD’s Washington Headquarters Service, which you currently direct and oversee.
Sincerely,
Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein. Esq.
Founder and President
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
505-250-7727
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