Air Force Academy – The Air Force’s inspector general has cleared the No. 2 leader at the academy of six of seven allegations of favoring evangelical Christianity over other religions.
The inspector general continues to examine whether Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida, the commandant of cadets, used a “communicative code that could have been used to facilitate the proselytization of non-Christian cadets,” according to a statement by the inspector general released Wednesday.
Weida, a born-again Christian and 1978 academy graduate, apologized Wednesday in a written statement.
“As we worked through the difficulties that followed the sexual-assault crisis, faith was, for me and for others, a source of comfort and strength,” he wrote. “My actions were intended to offer encouragement to those that relied upon their faith, but I did not appreciate that encouraging some discouraged others. … To the extent that my words and actions did that, I offer my sincere apology.”
Lt. Gen. John Rosa, superintendent of the academy, would not discuss details of the ongoing investigation.
However, the task-force report released Wednesday outlines an incident in September 2003 when Weida spoke at a Protestant retreat for freshman cadets.
Weida held up a “J for Jesus” hand signal that was followed by a “Rocks!” response from cadets.
In a later gathering with cadets from various religious backgrounds, Weida flashed the “J for Jesus” hand signal again. Christian cadets familiar with its meaning responded with “Rocks!” the report said.
An April 28 report on the religious climate at the academy from Americans United for Separation of Church and State said Weida told cadets during basic training about the New Testament parable of the house built on a rock, a metaphor for building faith on the firm foundation of Jesus.
“Gen. Weida then instructed the cadets that, whenever he uses the phrase “Air power!” they should respond with the phrase “Rock, sir.”
The inspector general found Weida did not violate the Constitution when he acknowledged National Day of Prayer in May 2003, instructed cadets in an e-mail that they were accountable to their God, gave a talk on religious tolerance accompanied by an evangelical Christian visual aid, and advocated in other settings one religion over another.
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
