Interfaith Alliance says Hegseth is elevating one narrow religious worldview
Interfaith AllianceStatement by the Rev. Paul Raushenbush, head of Interfaith Alliance, quoted by the Associated Press
Interfaith Alliance's Paul Raushenbush says the cut is not streamlining but an elevation of one religious worldview by Hegseth.
Responding to
The military's previous system of more than 200 faith codes was impractical and unusable, and many of the codes were never used.
“Secretary Hegseth is not 'streamlining' anything. He is elevating one narrow religious worldview from the top of the chain of command”
Official statement
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Hegseth cuts military religious affiliation codes from over 200 to 31; American Atheists and Interfaith Alliance object
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the military's more than 200 faith codes were impractical and has cut them to 31. Interfaith Alliance and American Atheists say the change elevates one worldview and leaves out minority beliefs; American Atheists has sued for the records.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Interfaith Alliance's own post of the statement by its president and CEO, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, that AP quoted on June 5.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Associated Press report, republished by WDIV ClickOnDetroit, on the new list of 31 religious affiliation codes. It quotes Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, the Unitarian Universalist Association and Interfaith Alliance's Paul Raushenbush.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
AP reports that the Defense Department announced a new list of 31 religious affiliations, down from more than 200 traditions troops could previously choose from.
After the quotation
Raushenbush says the First Amendment does not allow the government to create a hierarchy of faiths or allow the Pentagon to decide which beliefs are worthy of recognition.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Interfaith Alliance condemns the reduction of the codes, saying it elevates one religious worldview and conflicts with the First Amendment.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Pete Hegseth
More from this case
Read the full caseAmerican Atheists says service members swear an oath to the Constitution, not to Hegseth's religious views
American Atheists
“Our military members swear an oath to defend the Constitution, not to promote Pete Hegseth's religious views”Read statement
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell says the shorter list makes no claim on the legitimacy of any faith
“This decrease in religious affiliation codes is not designed to make any claims on the legitimacy of any faith or religious belief, nor is it intended to provide a list of 'officially approved' religions”Read statement
Hegseth says the military's 200-plus faith codes were impractical and unusable
“The previous system had ballooned to well over 200 faith codes. ... It was impractical and unusable, and many codes were never used at all”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Interfaith Alliance says Hegseth is elevating one narrow religious worldview". First published: 2026-11-02. Last updated: 2026-11-02. https://disputeindex.com/events/7767-interfaith-alliance-s-paul-raushenbush-says-the-cut