Posted on 05/04/2006 9:14:42 AM PDT by DesScorp
NORFOLK, Va. -- A chaplain stationed at Naval Station Norfolk said he could face court-martial for praying in uniform outside the White House.
Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt said he prayed at a March 30 protest opposing Department of Defense rules forbidding military chaplains from invoking the name of Jesus Christ.
He's accused of violating an order not to appear in uniform at news conferences in support of personal or religious issues.
The issue seems to hinge on whether his praying at the event was permissible participation at a bona fide religious service. Klingenschmitt is rejecting non-judicial punishment in favor of trial by court-martial.
In addition, he's filing a complaint against the Navy claiming the threat of punishment against him amounts to religious harassment and he's appealing to the White House to end what he claims are the military's attempts to take reprisals against a whistle-blower.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbc4.tv ...
But the problem with non-secratarian prayer is that it means nothing. And that's the problem I have with the Chaplain service. It's more like a bunch of guys that want to be in the service, but don't really believe in anything.
By their very nature a minister of God (whatever faith) should want to win souls. If they don't what's the point in their becoming a minister(priest, rabbi, etc..)
Blountley...you don't appear at any press conference---of post/base---wearing your uniform. Its an absolute reg and defined for all services. In the early 80s...at Barksdale AFB in Lousiana...two guys from the base...both NCO's appeared at some rally downtown...pictures taken...in paper the next day...and their commanders called both in. They both got punishment and were recited the regulations in full to ensure they knew what they had done wrong. Again...it was a religious episode...which both gentlemen thought they were in the right...and they were ABSOLUTELY wrong.
A man who wears a military uniform...is a professional. You cannot allow the uniform to be misused. It'd be the same if some fool airmen showed up at a pro-life rally...some sailors showed up at a anti-gay rally...or some marines showed up at some pro-NRA rally. In civilian clothing...no one is going to say much. But in uniform....its just plain wrong.
"What I do find to be incredible is that they have told chaplains not to proselytize on duty."
Why would you find that to be incredible? I'm not sure it's the government's responsibility to proselytize a particular religious belief system. Matter of fact, it's probably a Constitutional violation.
Chaplains are there for counselling and support at the behest of servicemembers. Nothing more.
Not exactly.
You have to follow your chain of command.
You don't like your immediate supervisor? Tell'em. Then tell THEIR supervisor. As long as you follow your chain of command, and have documentation to back you up, you'll only be labeled a troublemaker and not a malcontent.
A prayer is essentially religious in character. Forbid the prayer or rescind this order.
It sounds like a JAG office policy. Military JAG's are loaded with ACLU types even in Iraq. The Bush DOD has failed to clean out the clintonista's in this area as well as most other critical areas of government. That's the primary reason we find JAG's bringing charges against combat troops for killing terrorists. For the skeptics who may challenge this statement, check with any young military lawyer with JAG experience.
This is why I never read the news any longer. I make up crap and then tell my friends as if it's true.
Think I'll become a journalist.
Believe it or not, but no priest is going to offer a prayer to Mary at a mixed gathering. Did you know that at mass,she is mentioned only twice. Once in ther Nicene Creed, and later as chief among the saints. As for Allah, that is simply the Arab word for God.
Unfortunately this President has not yet purged our military of the Clintonistas appointed during the Clinton administration to practice "social engineering." They had a "captive" audience and a large budget to play with. ...very sad state of affairs and more evidence that liberalism is a mental disorder.
Better read your Constitution pal. It contains NO prohibition against prosylitizing. Nor does it contain words requiring separation of church and state. It DOES contain words prohibiting government interferance in the practice of religion.
Please do not change headlines.
In the case I mention, where a Chaplain invoked Jesus Christ's name to some of the Jewish cadets, do you think that was the right thing to do? If so don't we close the military off to other religious beliefs? Because if I was a Jew, I would not join if I thought you were going to try and convert me.
I might be wrong so please correct me if I am but the Chaplain corp's goals are not to win souls but to council those of various religious backgrounds, right? That's what it says on their web site(s).
Are chaplains now also subject to "Don't ask, don't tell"?
Beam me up, Scotty...
I asked this in another post but I will ask you as well. Doesn't that "close the door" on other religious beliefs? If I am a Jew and I think that by entering the military a Chaplain is going to attempt to convert me, is that right? Or better yet, if I am a Catholic and a "Scientology" chaplain attempts it.
If he is its rightly so.. its one thing to protest a policy, its another to do it in uniform at a press conference... he violated rules, no different than if an active duty person showed up in full uniform at a pro abortion rally.
This sort of activity is clearly against the rules.
He's not busted for praying, hes being busted because he sowed up in uniform at a political event to protest policy.. this is not allowed. You can't do this if you are active duty and in uniform, period...
Believe your grandma.
He's accused of violating an order not to appear in uniform at news conferences
Today's big news is that the Los Angeles office of NBC is staffed by liars that know how to fire up the ain't-it-awful crowd at the freerepublic.
[yawn]
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