JURIST - Paper Chase: Federal judge dismisses religious intolerance lawsuit against USAF Academy

[JURIST] A federal judge Friday rejected a claim by US Air Force Academy [official website] graduates that a military chaplain illegally forced Christianity on them [JURIST report]. US District Judge James A. Parker dismissed [opinion, PDF] the case because the cadets could not give specific examples of when cadets were harmed and because they no longer attend the academy. He wrote:

Plaintiffs never allege a personal link or connection to any alleged future Establishment Clause violations. Without that personal link or connection to future misconduct, plaintiffs have simply not shown that they will suffer an injury in fact that is both concrete and particularized and actual or imminent.

Last year, a Pentagon investigation [JURIST report] found religious insensitivity at the academy, but no "overt acts of religious discrimination." In February, the Air Force revised its guidelines on religious expression [JURIST report], removing restrictions on the promotion of religious views. Academy graduate Mikey Weinstein of New Mexico said he would appeal Parker's decision. AP has more.