Airman says officer biased over wearing LDS apparel

Howells' allegations come just weeks after a New Mexico man filed a federal lawsuit against the Air Force, alleging "severe, systemic and pervasive" religious discrimination. Michael L. Weinstein, an Air Force Academy graduate, claims school officials pressure cadets to convert to evangelical Christianity.

The Air Force recently released new guidelines for religious tolerance after a task force found that some students and staff at the school have the perception that the academy favors evangelical Christians and is intolerant of those who do not share their faith.

One such guideline states, "Air Force commanders have an obligation to ensure that the people under their authority have opportunity to obtain spiritual care."

Howells said he and other performers in his unit did not have the opportunity to regularly attend religious services while touring with Tops in Blue.

During his seven-month deployment, Howells said he was allowed to attend religious services only twice, and a Catholic airman said he could count on his hand the number of times he was allowed to attend religious services.

Officials blamed the hectic touring schedule for not allowing airmen to attend religious services, but Howells said accommodations should have been made for members of his unit to receive spiritual nourishment.

When Howells approached Edwards on May 11 about the possibility of attending Sunday services, the commander reportedly told him, "God does not live in a building; you don't need to go to church to worship."

"I don't always need four walls, but it would be nice to have that relief to attend church every now and then," said a current member of the group who is Catholic, who asked that he not be named, fearing retribution from his leaders. "It's against our constitutional rights to keep us from worshipping, no matter if we're in uniform or not."

Tops in Blue officials said they do not track the religious service attendance of its members, but said performers may attend the religious service of their choice during off-duty hours or when their attendance does not impact mission accomplishment.

"The Air Force is sensitive to and protects the religious beliefs and rights of its members, and Tops in Blue abides by those policies," according to a statement from Tops in Blue officials.

A spokesman for the LDS Church declined to comment specifically about Howells' case but said the church appreciates the military's ongoing efforts to accommodate Latter-day Saint religious practices.

"Church members serving in the military are encouraged to talk with their local church leaders and unit chaplains should they have any questions or concerns," spokesman Dale Bills said.

Howells said he carries no ill will toward Tops in Blue staff or Edwards specifically but said he wants all Air Force units to promote religious tolerance.

He chose not to speak out about the ordeal until his last few weeks of duty with the Tops in Blue group. Howells will return to Utah this week to serve in his regular career as a public affairs representative for the Utah Air National Guard.

"If I can't stand up and defend my own religious freedom, how can I be expected to stand up and defend the rights of others?" Howells said. "The only thing that supersedes my love for my country is my love for my God."

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Contributing: Associated Press.

E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com