The Christian Post is reporting that The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), a secular legal group, is threatening federal litigation if a Christian bookstore is not removed from a military base in North Carolina, citing a potential violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.
Veteran Josh Creson and his family opened the Faith2Soar store last September at a mini-mall on Fort Liberty.
The MRFF contends that a Christian bookstore on the military base could be perceived as the government endorsing a particular religion, which it claims would breach the Constitution.
Mikey Weinstein, the founder and president of MRFF, has been vocal about his concerns, stating that while a faith-themed store in a local mall would not be problematic, its existence on a military base raises significant constitutional issues.
According to Weinstein, his organization represents 211 U.S. Army personnel, including 165 Christians, who have expressed discomfort with the store’s presence on the base.
These personnel reportedly approached MRFF due to fears of alleged retribution from the chain of command.
Weinstein emphasized that the issue lies not with the store or its owner, whom he believes to be a “nice guy,” but with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), which oversees various businesses at U.S. Army and Air Force installations worldwide.
In a letter to Lt. General Christopher T. Donahue, the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty, Weinstein demanded the removal of the bookstore from the base, warning that his clients are prepared to pursue federal litigation if necessary.
In response to these allegations, the First Liberty Institute, a legal organization specializing in defending religious liberty, has stepped in to represent Creson.
Mike Berry, senior counsel at the institute, dismissed Weinstein’s claims as “dubious” and accused him of living in a “fantasy world”. Berry asserted that the Constitution protects the rights of individuals like Creson to operate a business in line with their faith, even on a military base.
Creson, who served as a tank and armor officer before transitioning into logistics, said he opened the store on the base to assist service members and reconnect with the military community, pledging that 22% of the store’s earnings would go to AAFES.
Creson emphasized that the store does not impose religious beliefs on its customers but aims to support military personnel and their families emotionally and spiritually.
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