Washington, USA - Democratic attempts to condemn reports of religious intolerance at the Air Force Academy spilled into the national debate about the role of religion in government Monday when a conservative Republican congressman accused Democrats on the House floor of waging a "war on Christianity."
Democrats quickly asked for sanctions against Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., who made the statement, but then dropped the request when Hostettler withdrew a portion of his remarks.
What prompted the exchange was debate over Democratic-authored language in a defense spending bill condemning "abusive religious proselytizing" at the academy, north of Colorado Springs.
That language was replaced on a voice vote late Monday with GOP wording supporting "freedom for religious expression for all faiths" in the military.
Democrats' attempts to keep their condemnation in the bill failed 198-210.
The debate heated up when Hostettler accused Democrats of being anti-Christian.
"The long war on Christianity in America continues today on the floor of the United States House of Representatives," Hostettler said. "It continues unabated with aid and comfort to those who would eradicate any vestige of our Christian heritage being supplied by the usual suspects - the Democrats."
He continued, "Like a moth to a flame, Democrats can't help themselves when it comes to denigrating and demonizing Christians."
Hostettler later withdrew the remark about denigrating Christians.
Air Force Academy officials reported last year that a survey of cadets found a perception that Christians were favored over non-Christians.
A Jewish cadet has reported anti-Semitic treatment. Another cadet said he was dubbed a "heathen" when he declined to attend religious services. And a report found that a chaplain
urged cadets to "tell their fellow cadets that those who are not born again will burn in the fires of hell."
Such reports prompted Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, to put language in a defense spending bill condemning "coercive and abusive" proselytizing.
Obey said Monday that Hostettler's statement was "a perfect example of why we need to pass this amendment."
But House Armed Services chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said Congress shouldn't condemn conduct before investigations are completed.
"This amendment is the judge, jury and executioner," Hunter said.
Rep. Joel Hefley, the Colorado Springs Republican whose district includes the academy, said officials there are dealing with the religion issue properly.
Hostettler said the amendment was wrong because "proselytizing" means converting someone from one religion to another.
He said there's no evidence that any cadet's religion has been forcibly changed.
A report is due this week from a Pentagon panel that investigated the allegations. It is one of at least four probes of religious attitudes at the school.