Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) and 35 members of Congress have asked the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) to reverse a decision to remove the word "God" from its logo. The lawmakers expressed concern that the logo was modified in order to appease an atheist organization that filed a complaint.
Forbes wrote the following on his website Tuesday:
The U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) recently modified the logo on its official patch to remove its reference to "God," following a complaint from the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. The RCO patch, like many unit patches, included a line in Latin meant to be a clever pun understood by members of the unit. The motto stated "Opus Dei Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus" (Doing God’s Work with Other People’s Money). It was altered to now read "Miraculi Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus" (Doing Miracles with Other People’s Money).
I am concerned that the RCO capitulated to pressure from an outside group that consistently seeks to remove reference to God and faith in our military. The RCO’s action to modify the logo sets a dangerous precedent that all references to God, despite their context, must be removed from the military.
In reality, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit the mention of "God." In fact, the Courts have consistently upheld the constitutionality of the national motto "In God We Trust," despite its obvious mention of God.
A copy of the letter from the 36 lawmakers, all members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, to RCO can be found here.