Jesus Name Not to be used by Military Chaplains

American Center for Law and Justice ^ | Nov. 15, 2005 | Jay Sekulow

[conserv371]

A pattern of hostility to free speech - specifically the rights of Christians to pray - is on the rise in our country.

We saw it in our nation’s public schools ... where prayer was officially banned. We have seen it in our workplaces.

Now, our United States military seems to have “jumped on the bandwagon” ... with Air Force leadership recently releasing proposed guidelines that will restrict how Air Force chaplains can pray.

If approved, these guidelines may well be implemented throughout the entire Armed Forces.

This is an outrage that we cannot allow! Already, it is documented that chaplains are “feeling the heat” to restrict their prayers and mask their faith.

Christian chaplains are being told NOT to pray in the name of Jesus!

For many Christian chaplains, praying in the name of Jesus is a fundamental part of their beliefs. To suppress this form of expression would be a violation of their constitutional rights and religious freedoms.

Furthermore, to censor Christian chaplains is a disservice to the thousands of Christian soldiers in the military who look to their chaplains for comfort, inspiration, and support ... just as military soldiers of other faiths look to their chaplains.

Again, we cannot allow these proposed guidelines to be passed. We cannot sit idly by while our honored Christian military chaplains are singled out and silenced.

I have assembled a senior legal team at the ACLJ, including a 20-year military veteran who worked at the Pentagon. We are drafting a legal analysis and comments to be used in this process.

Thankfully, a group of Congressmen has joined together to call on the President to protect by Executive Order the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith.

In response to this outrageous and blatant religious intolerance and infringement of free speech rights, the ACLJ has embarked on a nationwide campaign to PROTECT PRAYER and the constitutional rights of military chaplains.

In our Armed Forces, all faiths must be respected. Christian chaplains must be permitted to pray in the name of Jesus.

The ACLJ is working to generate a massive grassroots effort, to let the President know that we will not stand for this type of blatant religious intolerance in our nation’s military. President Bush must step in to protect religious freedom.

[ndt]

"It prescribes a government authorized mode of prayer. The government says that prayers can be this way and not that way. Violates 1st amendment."

As you said, this is only for mandatory attendance. Maybe a better solution would be no prayer in mandatory meetings, what do you think?

"It creates a "neutral" faith that does not exist in America and then grants it privileged status."

Well I agree with that statement.

"It discriminates. Actually, our Jewish and Islamic chaplains are not so constrained. Jews are free to pray to God. Muslims are free to begin their prayer with their testimony to the supremacy of Allah. So far as I can tell, only Christians are targeted."

Well since they all share the concept and even history of God (up to a point, yes, yes there are differences, but I think you now what I mean) I don't see the big deal. To the Muslim, Allah was the same god that talked to Moses and in his eyes, its his way of saying God. If a Rabi referred to Yahweh, would you have any doubt he was referring to your god? It's not like the Muslim was calling on Mohammad, which would be the closest parallel to a Christian calling on Christ (or maybe he was, I was not there, it's not clear in what you wrote).

"Freedom is far easier to enforce than is regulation."

Now there is a beautiful sentence :)

However, we are talking about mandatory meetings, the military equivalent of corporate meetings. If I'm giving a speech at my company, do I try to sell my dogs puppies too? No, because it has nothing to do with the business at hand. Get the mandatory portion over and done with then groups that want to gather and talk about whatever, however they want to can. No regulation (assuming the topic at hand is legal).

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"The spirit of anti-christ is getting stronger in this world. It only a matter of time before he appears on the scene."

From your lips to his ears. I think a good old fashioned butt-kicking by Our Lord is in order. Has been for years now.

[Jess Kitting]

I imagine praying in the name of Allah is okay; it's probably even protected speech.

The ACLU not only wants to destroy Christian values; it wants to replace them, with anti-Christian values, such as atheism and Islamic fundamentalism. (Problem is, they will soon discover that atheism and Islam are incompatible, and if they've destroyed all the Christians, there will be no one left to protect them from either extreme.)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Jesus' blood never failed me yet
Never failed me yet.

Jesus' blood never failed me yet...
This one thing I know
For He loves me so.

[Chena]

"Onward Christian soldiers". Speak up, stand up, write letters, pass the word, and pray. Christianity is being attacked from many sides. God help us, Amen.

[conserv371]

Citizen Link

http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0038304.cfm

Virtual Online News

http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0038304.cfm

[jec1ny]

Ignore my previous posts. I have found the source of the alleged problem. And I must say that reading the Air Force's proposed guidelines, I did not see much that was objectionable. I also did not find any prohibition against praying "in Jesus Name."

I think the authors of the article posted here were stretching things a bit. I am however uncomfortable with an awful lot of the "comments" added by the ACLJ. While a few make sense... (I agree with their wanting protection for chaplains who as a matter of religious conscience can not offer non-sectarian prayers at command functions where attendance is compulsory), I think that some of their comments are disturbing to say the least.

They are really big on protecting a servicemen's right to "share their faith." Lets call this what it is. Proselytizing. And that has no place in the workplace. If people want to convert the non-believers you can work on them on your own time and off government property. I am ex military (Navy PC2)and a Catholic. I also know that in a highly structured and hierarchical society like the military its not possible in many cases to just walk away from someone who is preaching to you. They may outrank you. Or they may be a co-worker where you have to be around them on a daily basis. As a supervisor both in the military and the civilian world I would not tolerate anyone preaching in the work place. Its not professional and there is no way especially in the service for someone to escape it if he or she is uncomfortable. Telling someone to stop is inviting ostracism or harassment and it goes without saying that if they outrank you it can be extremely difficult to say "thanks but I already have a religion and I am not interested in yours" or words to that effect.

In closing I would say that I think this article is misleading to say the least. I also strongly disagree with efforts to establish a right to use the military as a field for evangelizing or any other kind of missionary activity.

[xzins]

I think no prayer at a mandatory event is an acceptable solution.

However, since the military really is driven in many ways by traditions and customs, and since these traditions help build cohesion in a unit as they hearken to the history of that particular service, the military would be cutting off its nose to spite its face.

I would advise my commander simply to acknowledge that our different chaplains all have different faith requirements, and that an American who's a grown up would simply have a prayer and recognize differences for what they really are: a reflection of the way America actually looks. This is the grownup response, in my view.

Also, there are some Christian chaplains who are less compelled by their denominations to pray in Jesus' name than other chaplains. Another way to sidestep this is to identify those chaplains and invite only them to pray at these kinds of events.

Also, while allah might be the name of islamics for God, one must recognize that Jesus is one name of God for Christians. (Also, many Christians do not acknowledge that our God is the same God as is Allah. While some might not like that, and they might want to argue over it, it is simply a matter of belief that "allah is not the same as our God."....think of the "Trinity" and their position will become evident.)

[ndt]

"Also, many Christians do not acknowledge that our God is the same God as is Allah. While some might not like that, and they might want to argue over it, it is simply a matter of belief that "allah is not the same as our God.""

That was one of those moments when right after I hit "submit" and I thought to myself DAMN, that's gonna stir up the hornets nets. Thankfully you were able to read it in context, though I'm sure others won't.

[jec1ny]

I concur. No prayer is a good solution for mandatory events. As a catholic Christian I do not want to be subjected to Islamic Jewish or Protestant prayers. And I see no reason to believe a Southern Baptist would be especially thrilled to have an invocation prayer to Crist and the Virgin Mary and various saints (fill in the bank). A non sectarian prayer is to me worthless.

[conserv371]

KSQ Newschannel 3 Palm Springs, CA seems to be the closest to the original story.

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=4008678&nav=9qrx

[USF]

I did a quick google search and came up with this :

There is congressional action taking place in Washington to protest proposed Air Force guidelines that would have the effect of banning Christian military chaplains from praying in Jesus’ name during certain ceremonies.

The Air Force guidelines were introduced in early August. Since then, over 35 congressional representatives, led by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), have signed a request that President Bush issue an executive order to allow them to pray. Such orders carry the force of law, and are effective unless they are overturned by Congress or the courts.

And this

He [Rep. Walter B. Jones, N.C. (R)]cited a letter from one Army chaplain who said it was made clear in his chaplain training course that it is offensive and against Army policy to publicly pray in the name of Jesus, and he later was rebuked for doing so. "Much to my great shame, there have been times when I did not pray in my Savior's name," the chaplain wrote. Mr. Jones cited similar complaints from the Marine Corps and Navy.

All seem to refer to AirForce "Guidelines," with Rep. Jones leading the crusade.

[bella1]

As a Christian, i have always prayed for God to bless this nation. I am beginning to wonder if a more appropriate prayer would be for God to bring this country to its knees so that we would repent of our foolishness and sinful ways. IN JESUS NAME! AMEN.

[xzins]

I agree with you. I'd rather have no prayer than a government enforced, non-sectarian prayer.

Actually, I have no problem listening to a Catholic priest being himself and offering a more thoroughly catholic prayer. At least I know I'm getting an honest supplication.

[04-Bravo]

I wonder how many prayers God heard from G.I.'s and Marines, fighting in places like Omaha Beach, Bastogne, Tarawa, and Iwo Jima.

Or any battlefield from Bunker Hill to Baghdad...

[xzins]

:>)

One of the things on Free Republic that drives me crazy is when I've just hit the "post" button only to finally see a mistake or think of a better way to say what I just said.

Sometimes a "do over" would be nice.

[Zack Nguyen]

I respect the ACLJ, but this article is essentially a burst email to supporters. I want to see a story with links, quotes and some evidence. Where is this order? What is the Air Force's comment? Do we have some links?

[JamesA]

When or will Christians unite and say enough! I don't think it will happen..The word God will eventually be elimited and worship will be outlawed.

[eeriegeno]

This country has gone mad with socialistic attitudes that was born in the sixties! Don't know about anyone else but I have had my fill with Arabic religions and their killer tendencies. I am tired of the education that I have been spoon-fed about all of the middle-eastern customs and norms. I am sick and tired of hearing about al-anyone affecting my life...

I have also had my fill with Mexican people who are illegally invading our country.

Seems to me that the 'Great Society' and the political correctness that was started there was not really a good thing for the good old US of A.......

Merry Christmas everyone.... (Oops, am I still allowed to say that?)

Maybe I should call ABCCBSNBCCNN to ask??????

[Myrddin]

This is never going to fly with the LDS/Mormon crowd. I would be hard pressed to count on one hand the number of times a prayer has not concluded with the phrase, 'In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen'. That's over a 19 year time frame.