Posted on 11/15/2005 5:43:24 PM PST by 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 nations 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 nations military. President Bush must step in to protect religious freedom.
"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.
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.)
"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.
Citizen Link
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0038304.cfm
Virtual Online News
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0038304.cfm
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.)
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
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.
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.
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.
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...
:>)
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.
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?
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.
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??????
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