Posted on 12/21/2005 7:24:58 AM PST by piperpilot
To pray -- or not to pray -- in Jesus' name is the question plaguing an increasing number of U.S. military chaplains, one of whom began a multiday hunger strike outside the White House yesterday.
"I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus' name," said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who will be holding 6 p.m. prayer vigils daily in Lafayette Park.
The hunger strike is intended to persuade President Bush to issue an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their individual faith traditions. The American Center for Law and Justice has gathered 173,000 signatures on a petition seeking an executive order.
Seventy-three members of Congress have joined the request, saying in an Oct. 25 letter to the president, "In all branches of the military, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christian chaplains to use the name of Jesus when praying."
About 80 percent of U.S. troops are Christian, the legislators wrote, adding that military "censorship" of chaplains' prayers disenfranchises "hundreds of thousands of Christian soldiers in the military who look to their chaplains for comfort, inspiration and support."
Official military policy allows any sort of prayer, but Lt. Klingenschmitt says that in reality, evangelical Protestant prayers are censored. He cites his training at the Navy Chaplains School in Newport, R.I., where "they have clipboards and evaluators who evaluate your prayers, and they praise you if you pray just to God," he said. "But if you pray in Jesus' name, they counsel you."
Muslim, Jewish and Roman Catholic chaplains are likewise told not to pray in the name of Allah, in Hebrew or in the name of the Trinity, he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
I don't know ... at times Bush puzzles me ... land for peace - gimme a break! GWB has an undergraduate degree in WORLD history ... he was a former Sunday school teacher ... he should know the score on prophecy ... I believe he is trying to return evil with good but there are times when he may want to speak up MORE on issues. Only God knows what's going on with Bush ... .
I just so happen to be reading Isaiah right now. Wow.
And while you are at it, can you kinda play down that whole God thing?
I agree with you. I don't understand him either.
"It is very possible that a bunch of sailors who attend the protestant services onboard ship - would certainly be offended by the mere mention of: "Jesus"."
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
It is the Protestant take on this, praying in Jesus' name that makes this offensive. Protestants, if they pray at all, pray in His name. Other "Christian" faiths will pray to others, such as Mary, and other dead Saints etc., so that would not be as offensive to them.
Yes, it has to do with the DOD as you say. But from what I understand, he wants the president to intercede with an executive order. I really don't know if that is feasible. But I still believe that a representative of the state (whoever that may be) should approve a Christian chaplain calling on the name of Jesus who is the foundation of the faith. I somehow can't image that Muslim chaplins aren't allowed to mention Allah. Whoever issued that rule would become subject to a death fatwah.
Yes, and I can't imagine any chaplain, be he/her Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, choosing to accept not praying in the name of the one they represent. I look forward to seeing what our military chaplains choose to do with this.
Maybe Christians should let our "leaders" know that they will no longer enlist in the service. That will change their minds in a hurry.
I think I'll go ask a chaplain. There are a few around here.
I don't mind hearing about God ... play it UP!
People need to take note of what you are saying ... .
I find this situation utterly disgraceful. All civilian & mililitary leadership involved in this policy should be completely ashamed.
This is one of those stories where I think there's probably a lot more to the story. Sorry, but these "I'm being persecuted" stories never seem to pan out the way they're originally reported.
Here's what makes me wonder:
He says he got in hot water during the summer of 2004 while aboard the USS Anzio for preaching an evangelistic sermon at the funeral of a Catholic sailor in a base chapel. The lieutenant said he was reprimanded by two senior chaplains and, in March, sent ashore to Norfolk.
What, precisely, did he say in his sermon? Perhaps the senior chaplains had a legitimate complaint -- perhaps Lt. Klingenschmitt was bashing Catholics, for example (something that is not unheard-of among ardent evangelical protestants) -- in which case he deserved to be reprimanded.
I've learned to distrust stories like this. I suspect that Lt. Klingenschmitt is not as innocent as he makes himself out to be.
We'll see who's who within the military clergy ... some will want that pension and medical benefits ... what's that I heard about the love of money ... ? ;)
I agree with you. I believe that we as Christians have a responsbility to call on our God by name, to pray and read His word, obeying it. But unlike some in this thread, I do think that when a chaplain is paid by the state, the state has the right and responsibility to lay out the rules by which he goes about his job. If the state refuses to allow the chaplain to pray in the Name of Jesus, then I think what you're reading about God's warning to the Israelites has some relevancy. I personally believe that God has blessed this nation because we as a nation have called on Him. I also believe that we as a nation will lose that blessing if we neglect Him and disobey His commandments. The state who puts its Christian chaplains in this type of position, whether to obey the state or God, when he is called upon by the Bible to do both, is slowing reaping wrath upon itself.
Yeppers...talk to Rummie
Well, there goes our military.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.