Chaplains Under Fire
Posted on October 22, 2005
WASHINGTON — A group of Christian congressmen want a presidential order protecting military chaplains after receiving anecdotal evidence that the religious personnel have been punished for using overtly Christian language in public settings.
Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., said he has received letters from chaplains, both stateside and deployed overseas, complaining that superior officers have criticized and even reprimanded them for using Bible verses and invoking the name of Jesus in memorial services, pre-mission remarks and other events outside of their religious services.
“This is a First Amendment right,” Jones said. “Our chaplains should not have any second thoughts about how they should pray. Let their heart speak with what God puts in their mind to pray.”
Jones was joined Wednesday by five of the 35 House members who have agreed to sign a letter to President Bush asking for an executive order protecting “the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith.” One senator, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., has also pledged his support.
At issue are proposed guidelines introduced by the Air Force in August that emphasize nondenominational prayers in military ceremonies, and similar warnings from the Defense Department to all chaplains not to “transform such non-faith-specific observances to reflect the chaplain’s denominational commitment.”
Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke said the goal of the educational efforts is to “encourage all members of the Armed Forces to respect the religious views and practices of all members.”
The Air Force regulations were released after an investigation into religious intimidation by Christian cadets at the service’s academy last spring.
Jones said he believes those guidelines will form the basis of a new militarywide code of conduct, and said that already, chaplains in all services are feeling pressure to watch their words.
Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., called the restrictions a “nasty form of political correctness” that keeps the chaplains from truly performing their jobs.
“This is against everything America has ever stood for,” he said.
“I think these guys understand that a chaplain is making a petition to his own god,” he said. “I think it’s fine for a Jewish chaplain to pray to Yahweh or a Muslim chaplain to pray to Allah.”
I saw this one coming from a mile away. The secular cleansing of America is at hand folks. If its Christian, there will be every effort for it to be erased from history, all in the name of political correctness. Call your senators and urge them to put a stop this.
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4 Responses to “Chaplains Under Fire”
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What is your problem with non-denominational? The United States military is an institution funded by tax dollars–lots of tax dollars–so many tax dollars that you couldn’t fund it if you just used Christian tax dollars–so, since public monies aren’t supposed to be used to elevate one religion above another–what is your problem regarding non-denominational prayer? Or is it that you are really seeking to elevate Christianity above the rest?
I think the chaplains in the military are just fine the way they have always been since the founder’s appointed the first one. To restrict each individual’s specific faith and water it down for the sake of political correctness is censorship. In no way is an individual Chaplain’s religious expression anywhere close to Congress establishing a law that favors any one religion.
Why does a person join the military to defend the constitution and then have his constitution rights to freely practice his religion denied. When Chaplains are not allowed to pray as required in their beliefs they are denied their constitutional rights. Simple as that Chris.
Jay, Thanks for posting this! This is an end-run around the AF Chief of Chaplains and the christians in the military. To the politically correct [edited] in the Pentagon: You are happy to have Bible-thumpers fixing your jets and humping your M-4s on patrol — and, in some cases, coming back in body bags. . . . But it is too much for you to let them hear a prayer in Jesus’ name from one of their like-minded chaplains? I have nothing but contempt for the Pentagon bureaucracy on this one. But, again, for all you Bushbots, the buck stops at the desks of SECDEF Dumbsfeld and President Bush on this one. Dumbsfeld is obviously worthless and Bush is . . . Clueless? — gunjam