![Air Force orders religious tolerance after task force inquiry into Academy practices](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] Following allegations of religious intolerance and a subsequent Air Force task force visit [US Air Force press release] to the Colorado Air Force Academy [official website], the Air Force has specifically instructed its commanders to exercise “religious respect” and refrain from using their positions to advance religious beliefs. The visit was sparked by claims of religious discrimination [JURIST report] at the Academy, including a claim that Capt. MeLinda Morton, an Academy chaplain, was demoted and transferred to Okinawa after criticizing evangelicals' influence at the academy. The Air Force’s instruction states that, "Senior leaders, commanders, and supervisor at every level must be particularly sensitive to the fact that subordinates can consider your public expressions of belief systems coercive. Using your place at the podium as a platform for your personal beliefs can be perceived as misuse of office." The task force’s report has yet to be released. AP has more.