Posted on 12/21/2005 11:08:46 PM PST by Former Military Chick
WASHINGTON — A Navy chaplain who says his Christian prayers are being censored by senior officers began a hunger strike outside the White House on Tuesday, petitioning the president to “let me pray.”
Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt said he will eat nothing, drink only water, and hold nightly prayer vigils outside the White House until he gets a response.
“I wonder if the president is really endorsing this behavior,” he said. “I’m facing being kicked out because I pray in Jesus’ name.”
Klingenschmitt said he fell out of favor with Navy officials for refusing to drop “Jesus” and other Christian-specific language from his public comments.
He believes his superiors are working toward discharging him from the service and the chaplain’s corps, and has filed a lawsuit against the Navy to keep his post. His contract runs out Dec. 31, and he said officials will not provide the necessary paperwork for him to continue in the chaplain’s role.
Navy spokesman Lt. William Marks said Klingenschmitt is still an active-duty sailor in good standing, has no disciplinary action pending, and has not received any punishment for language used in public forums. He would not comment on the paperwork accusation.
Marks also said that rules governing Navy chaplains do not limit what they can say during religious ceremonies but do specify that chaplains should “focus on practices the faiths have in common” when speaking at secular and public events.
The rules are explained to all chaplains during their training, Marks said, and are the same for all faiths.
Earlier this month, a group of 71 Congressmen sent a letter to President Bush asking him to protect “the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith” through an executive order, citing concerns about limits on the language chaplains can use in public forums.
The American Center for Law and Justice has also started a petition drive seeking the same presidential action.
Klingenschmitt said since he announced his hunger strike on Tuesday, he has received support from more than a dozen congressmen for his efforts.
Klingenschmitt served for 11 years in the Air Force, not as a chaplain, before accepting a demotion to become a Navy chaplain three years ago, and has had numerous skirmishes with senior sailors in the past.
He said on one occasion, while serving on the USS Anzio stationed in the Persian Gulf in 2003, a commanding officer turned down his request to allow chaplains of all faiths to conduct nightly prayers in their own words before the sailors sat down to dinner.
In another, commanding officers would not supply kosher food to Jewish sailors, and he was counseled for “causing a stir” when he fought for the sailor, Klingenschmitt said.
Genius, initiative, insight, and oddity all reside in the same suburb of sanity. Granted, lunacy sometimes visits...
He better watch out on the food deprivation, he'll be feeling euphoric before he knows it.
Yep.
Klingenschmitt insisted on appearing in his Navy uniform and the Navy said "That is against regulations." He was free to appear in civilian clothes, but he declined - - he would only appear if he could do so in his Navy uniform.
But the Navy doesn't want somebody publicly airing their personal views while wearing a Navy uniform because that could tend to confuse people into believing that that person is speaking on behalf of the Navy.
Bullshit.
He's using Jesus as "his" reason, they ain't IMHO.....Sounds like he's been passed over for promotion and knows his future , playing the sympathy system as a last act....
Just my opinion of course .......Stay safe and Merry Christmas !
I heard his SO on the radio the other day and he flat out said this guy is lying. I tend to agree.
possible Anglican ping?
I can't find this priest's obedience, except that he is supposed to be Episcopal.
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