Posted on 11/12/2013 12:46:52 PM PST by yoe
Two Baptist chaplains said they were forced out of a Veterans Affairs chaplain training program after they refused orders to stop quoting the Bible and to stop praying in the name of Jesus.
When the men objected to those demands, they were subjected to ridicule and harassment that led to one of the chaplains leaving the program and the other being ejected, according to a federal lawsuit filed Friday.
The Conservative Baptist Association of America is suing Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki; the group’s suit alleges two of its chaplains were openly ridiculed by the leader of the San Diego-based VA-DOD Clinical Pastoral Education Center program.
“Not only was the treatment these men received inappropriate, it was also a violation of federal law and the religious freedom guarantees of the First Amendment,” said John Wells, an attorney representing the Colorado-based denomination.
“No American choosing to serve in the armed forces should be openly ridiculed for his Christian faith,” he said, calling it one of the most blatant cases of religious discrimination he has ever seen.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"The United States Constitution addresses the issue of religion in two places: in the First Amendment, and the Article VI prohibition on religious tests as a condition for holding public office. The First Amendment prohibits the federal government from making a law "respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". This provision was later expanded to state and local governments, through the Incorporation of the Fourteenth Amendment."
"We live in a very litigious society, where almost anyone can sue another for virtually any offense, real or imagined. Department of Defense (DOD) policy makers are not immune from such litigation. In fact, there are growing numbers of persons and advocacy groups in the United States actively seeking to remove from public life—including in the armed services—virtually all symbols and expression of religion and America’s religious heritage by advocating a strict “separation of church and state” that is counter-constitutional." These same groups advocate abortion on demand; inappropriate sex education for our youngsters; push welfafe, food stamps and dependency on all uninformed citizens.
Separation of Church & State was an a concept advocated by Thomas Jefferson the latter phrase lavishly and inappropriately used by ill-informed or pandering politicians as well as others on the far left and right. Remind your elected of the coming election and their duty to their sworn oaths of office.
Freedom OF Religion not Freedom from religion.
“after they refused orders to stop quoting the Bible and to stop praying in the name of Jesus.”
I just got off a USN ship - the chaplain has an evening ‘prayer’ just before taps every night. You will NEVER hear the name of Jesus cross the chaplain’s lips.
Isn’t “quoting Scripture” essential to the job description?
As for one who was BULLIED into leaving, his lawsuit would take a different approach.
Very true. The concept as taken today is perverted. Free exercise as Constitutionally conceived included people working IN the government as long as they did not presume to speak FOR the government. To an atheist begging for Christ to get out of his face that seems like a distinction without a difference, but that’s the atheist’s problem, not a problem with reality.
Wow.
I applied to a VA Chaplaincy program earlier this year. Now I’m glad I got rejected! The one I’m in now is much better.
Obama has 3 years to hollow out the military. Seems to be on track.
Well, even earthly lawsuits can sooner or later fail.
However a suit before the court of God won’t fail.
They will eat the consequences of rejecting the Lord. Not might, will. Now God, being more gracious than any of us could dream, still won’t damn them while on this mortal coil. But He will sternly warn by cutting off the blessings they had enjoyed when they were nearer to Him.
Ping for later
“Isn’t “quoting Scripture” essential to the job description?”
Only if the “chaplain” position describes a person who reports to God. I guess these guys report to some administrator. It’s in the app.
It’s pretty damned obvious that the current administration is actively seeking to eliminate Christianity.
Then he is a tool, not a Chaplain, and should resign and seek forgiveness.
Was that shipboard chaplain a Baptist?
Still thinking about that. We haven’t had any ship-to-ship combat for quite some time now. I wonder if that chaplain’s prayer would change if he heard someone else’s 5” cross his deck? I’d be willing to bet a brand new bible that his foxhole prayer would mention Jesus.
There's no other name, by which one may be saved..
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus
Sweetest name I know.
The purges continue
Don’t get me started.....
In related news, the Obama Regime is outlawing the use of “stand your ground” principles for the United States Military. They will henceforth be required to run away when confronted with an attack using deadly force.
For purposes of determining how much retreat is required, it shall be assumed that retreat, to be reasonable, must be completely from any country territory other than the United States, and from within the United States, it must be to a point at least 100 miles from the coast or an international boundary.
Sadly, this is just the beginning.
bump
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