Replies

This Christian sailor has what it takes.

He's a idiot. He has no right to make a political speech while wearing the uniform of the United States Navy. He was publicly protesting the rule that Chaplains are not allowed to give "denominational" prayers in public in uniform and he wore his uniform while protesting that rule in public and then deliberatly broke that rule when he offered a public prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.

That rule may be stupid, but nevertheless it is on the books and as a paid Chaplain in the Navy, he is subject to it. He has no right to wear a uniform while publicly protesting that rule. And pursuant to that rule he cannot offer a public prayer in Jesus' name while wearing his uniform, which he did.

This guy may ultimately lose his pension over this issue. If he has a family, then he is being a poor steward of that which God has entrusted him. Ultimately that uniform is going to be taken away from him. At that point he would be free to protest and pray in Jesus name all he wants. He might want to offer up a prayer for a new job, cause he's decided he's going to throw this one in the trash.

He's a idiot. He has no right to make a political speech while wearing the uniform of the United States Navy. He was publicly protesting the rule that Chaplains are not allowed to give "denominational" prayers in public in uniform and he wore his uniform while protesting that rule in public and then deliberatly broke that rule when he offered a public prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. That rule may be stupid, but nevertheless it is on the books and as a paid Chaplain in the Navy, he is subject to it. He has no right to wear a uniform while publicly protesting that rule. And pursuant to that rule he cannot offer a public prayer in Jesus' name while wearing his uniform, which he did. This guy may ultimately lose his pension over this issue. If he has a family, then he is being a poor steward of that which God has entrusted him. Ultimately that uniform is going to be taken away from him. At that point he would be free to protest and pray in Jesus name all he wants. He might want to offer up a prayer for a new job, cause he's decided he's going to throw this one in the trash.

Having been out of uniform a long time, I'm a bit fuzzy on chaplain rules...but I seem to remember a lot of chaplain's praying in Jesus's name while I was in the Navy (most saying the words "as a Christian minister I pray in Jesus's name").
But, if he were at a political event, I can see why the service got so ticked because UCMJ regs forbid ANY one in uniform at a political rally.

No member of the military is EVER permitted to be part of a political event while in uniform. Ever. He can't advocate X, Y, or Z in uniform if it's in any way political. He can't wear his uniform for John Kerry, for George Bush, for drilling in Anwar, for building an illegal immigrant fence, against gay marriage, OR for a rally by civilians to change military policy.

We can't participate in political events in uniform because it gives the impression that the military is taking sides in civil, political affairs, and the military is required to be subservient to the civilian in our system.

This includes Klingenschmitt. And to make sure he understood this, a general officer (admiral) in the Navy DID THE GUY A FAVOR and gave him a direct order not to participate in that event in uniform.

Being a bit too full of himself, he disobeyed a direct order from a general officer. If he didn't see the handwriting on the wall, then he was a bit blind.

His issue about praying in Jesus' name was perfectly sound. Sadly, the numbnutz submarined a good issue by disobeying a widely known provision of military policy.