Posted on 09/18/2006 4:02:04 PM PDT by DaveyB
As I sat in the hearing room, I felt a cold chill – like the chilling effect this court-martial will have on our free speech. For this analogy to be accurate, however, I would need to be sitting in a freezer. At issue in the court-martial of Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt, chaplain for the United States Navy, is a name and the freedom to speak it. That name is Jesus. And, according to this week's ruling, the freedom to speak it depends on the context.
Before I could go through the metal detectors to get to the courtroom, a Navy official had already taken Jesus' name in vain. No trial for that. No penalty. No problem. But use the name in reverence, in honor or in prayer, and you'll find yourself looking in the face of a court-martial. Welcome to the criminalization of Christianity.
This case is really about Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter, who ordered that every chaplain in the Navy worship his god – the "government god" of "non-sectarian" goodness who has no name and certainly no son by whom someone might be offended. But Chaplain Klingenschmitt told Navy Secretary Nebuchadnezzar, uh, I mean Winter, that he couldn't bow to his government god and had to proclaim the God of the Bible – who has a Son with an illegal name.
So Chaplain Klingenschmitt spoke the Gospel aboard ship, prayed in that illegal name and preached from that "offensive book" – much to the detriment of his career. But it's a good thing he did, particularly for a sailor who heard the message of the Gospel and dedicated his life to Christ – just before being killed in a motorcycle accident. A secular memorial was held, but many sailors approached the chaplain and asked that he hold a Christian memorial service to honor the sailor's faith. So he did. Attendance was voluntary. But the chaplains "above" him didn't like the content of his sermon. Mentioning Jesus in the chapel (you know, that building with the cross on top), they said, is just "too exclusive." Just who was it that hung on that cross depicted on the official Navy chaplain uniform, again? Maybe they can tell people it's really a lower case "t" – standing for "tepid," "totalitarian" or "triangle" until the new shapes can be issued.
In fact, Klingenschmitt was punished in writing for reading an "illegal verse," and Naval Judge Anita Blair upheld the reprimand. What was the illegal verse? [WARNING! If you are a member of the United States Navy, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT read this verse out loud, or face court martial!]
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. – John 3:36 The judge ruled that the chaplain's freedom wasn't really restricted since he was free to preach a sermon on "other" topics besides Jesus. Like, the measurements of the ark, for instance. Just don't go quoting Bible verses from the New Testament of Jesus Christ and actually mention Jesus Christ.
The chaplain then went on a hunger strike until the Navy said he could pray in uniform again. They said "no speeches" or "opinions," but he was allowed to wear his uniform for "religious observances." That brings us to the event in question – March 30, 2006, where the chaplain engaged in the "religious observance" of prayer. He didn't give a speech. Didn't voice his opinions. In fact, he even turned down questions from reporters because he was wearing his uniform. Quite different from other Navy officers who went on national television and national radio espousing "personal," "partisan" and "political beliefs" while in uniform without any prior permission. The difference? Oh, they were blasting Klingenschmitt, and the Navy agreed with the content of their speech.
Then, Judge Lewis T. Booker, the judge overseeing the court-martial, ruled that the right to "public worship" doesn't include "worshiping in public." Judge Booker said essentially that "public worship" is allowed for one hour on Sunday, and you better use it, because that's the only free exercise of religion you have left, sailor.
And now, five years after we were attacked, our troops are fighting overseas for the freedom of those who pray in the name of Allah at the same time a U.S. chaplain has been court-martialed for praying in the name of Jesus on American soil. Does anyone besides me see something wrong with this? On Monday, Sept. 11, 2006, we gathered to sing "God Bless America," but how likely do you think God will continue to bless us if we are forbidden from using His Son's name?
And where is our beloved commander in chief? The man I worked to elect, who personally told me that the "most important thing" I could do for him was to pray? Cannot our military have that same "most important" right? His number, by the way, is 202-456-1414.
As I was leaving the airport in Norfolk, I saw an advertisement that read: "America will always be the home of the free because it is the land of the brave." When I read it, I cried … because America is no longer the land of the free. Thankfully, there are still are brave Americans like Chaplain Klingenschmitt. If you are among the brave left in the land of the free, I urge you with everything in me to use your freedom while you still can.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is reportedly "still undecided" as to whether the freedom of religion should apply to chaplains. He sits on the conference committee for the Defense appropriations bill, H.R. 5122, and is a critical vote on Section 590 – the amendment that will let the chaplains of all branches of our military pray according to the dictates of their conscience. The toll-free number to reach him is: 1-888-355-3588. Use it to call Sens. John Warner and Carl Levin while you're at it; they're key votes on the committee, as well. The message? Simply: "Let the chaplains pray" – something our Founding Fathers thought was so very important that one of their first acts of the first Congress (after ratifying the First Amendment) was to establish chaplains to do just that.
Of course, you have "the right to remain silent," but if you use that right much longer, those are the words you'll hear before you see the inside of a prison cell. Because if they criminalize Chaplain Klingenschmitt today, tomorrow it's you.
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Janet L. Folger is president of Faith2Action, and author of "The Criminalization of Christianity."
You don't have Freedom of Speech. I remember when Clinton instated the don't ask don't tell policy while I was stationed in Germany. Some of the soldiers simply couldn't resist and put signs up in protest. They were told they were not allowed to state their opinions and that if they didn't take the signs down they would get written up. How much further our commander would have taken it, I don't know but it was generally agreed by all we no longer had that right.
The right to bear arms. I know that it may seem weird but soldiers living in barracks have this right compromised. They are allowed to own a firearm but if they live in the barracks they must have it locked up in the armory and are not permitted to keep it in their rooms. This is not the same for someone who lives in housing. They are permitted to keep firearms in government housing.
Those are two instances that I can remember.
I don't know how long ago you were in, but as someone who got out of the army just 9 months ago I can only tell you one thing: Believe it!
Read the book, The End Of Faith, if you can stomach it. It will frighten the heck out of you.
To be fair, German Chancellor Angela Merkel did come out in defense of the Pope. But that's it. My respect for her has gone up greatly, while my respect for other Western "leaders" has fallen even lower. Yes, I include Pres. Bush who has been completely silent on the whole matter.
FARROCKAWAY'S TAKE
Senate to Vote on 9/18/06
To Force Armed Services Chaplains
To Censor The Name of Jesus
From Any Prayer Offered Outside the Chapel
Go ballistic. Do it 9/17 and 9/18. By September 19th it will be too late. That’s all the time your government has given you.
Chaplain Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt has been convicted by a US Navy Court Martial of praying in the Name of Jesus just days ago. You read that right. A US Navy clergyman, an Episcopal Chaplain, was convicted for the crime of uttering a sectarian prayer (instead of the government-approved prayer) at a religious ceremony outside his allotted 1 hour on Sunday morning where it’s still legal to use the Name which is above Every Name: Jesus Christ.
Is this being done so fast that it’s bewildering to you? You bet it is. That’s the plan and don’t forget it.
The Navy claimed the Chaplain disobeyed a direct order. That order? To observe only non-sectarian prayers when praying anywhere except his allotted ‘sectarian’ worship service. The Navy has taken upon itself the authority to edit prayers. It ordered Klingenschmitt to conform or face court-martial. Full of the Honor of Jesus, Klingenschmitt chose the court-martial.
But even though this is the very first you’ve heard of this, you have precisely 24 hours to assimilate it, check into it, and then do something about it before it becomes written into law. Courteous of your government, huh?
The Senate is so pleased with this court-martial for praying in Jesus’ Name, they have decided to enshrine it in law all before you, the unsuspecting public, can act. Senator John Warner, Lindsay Graham, and Carl Levin, have a bill they are working on which would make it law for all the Armed Forces Chaplains to be forced to obey this new rule. They cloak it in such nice terms! How can anyone disagree? It sounds like this.
In situations other than theological services or sectarian ceremonies when a prayer is offered, the policy shall require chaplains to be sensitive to and respect the diversity of faiths represented.
Translation? If you use Jesus’ Name, the Navy can court-martial you, maybe wipe out your retirement benefits, fine you, at very least. That’s what this gun-barrel “language” just thrust at Chaplain Klingenschmitt is trying to do. They convicted him. Can you imagine? Convicted for praying in Jesus’ Name? He’s cleaning out his desk right now for daring to honor his Lord over the Navy, a Navy which has set itself up as God.
In a totally bizarre statement, while attempting to uphold Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter’s new rules, the Navy judge at the proceedings decided that it was permissible to punish Klingenschmitt for praying because “worshipping in public”, was not the same as, “public worship”. Navy rules permitted prayer in one, not in the other.
Oh. That makes sense. Right?
No, that is Alice-in-Wonderland, communist, double-speak. It is an insult, a slap in the face to the veterans of this great country who fought and lived, fought and died, so that our clergy would have the right to pray in Jesus’ Mighty and Glorious Name any God-blessed or any God-damned time they wanted to.
What did this guy actually do? Facts: He went and stood in uniform in front of the White House, at an event he had written permission from his CO to be at, uttered a prayer in Jesus’ Name, and said exactly nothing else to anybody. That’s it.
Reporters were there, he ignored them, didn’t say one word to them. That’s what the man did. That’s illegal behaviour for a United States Military Chaplain. Had he not used the name “Jesus”, making his prayer ‘sectarian’, he would not be court-martialed right now.
By-by retirement? By-by honorable record? Monthly fine? Letter of reprimand?
America’s historic enemies have always wanted and tried to censor prayers. The American soldier has always fought to protect the freedom of conscience of her Christian clergy. But get this: the Senate is planning to vote on this Tuesday, September 19th. Nice publicity they gave in order to solicit veterans’ reactions, huh? “Oh, yeah, we’re going to make it illegal to pray in Jesus’ Name tomorrow. We won’t put it quite like that of course. No need to put out a press release. It’s just some “language” in a bill somewhere. Just reinforcing what the Navy rules already are. Yeah, we’ve already enforced court-martial on this. No big deal.”
I’ll call this what it is.
Infamy.
Treason.
Call Senator John Warner and tell him, “The new language we are dictating to you, Senator, is as follows: Chaplains may pray according to their conscience and according to their specific faith whenever and however they see fit, whenever prayers are offered.”
Tell him if he doesn’t like it? He’s a traitor.
Ask for Warner: 888-355-3588
Ask for Bush: 202-456-1414
While there is still a little bit of America left to fight for, fight for it.
I retired from the Army in 1999, but I believe it..It's just so hard to believe..
So what is a clergyman/chaplain in a military unit supposed to do if he is forced by the military to cease praying?
"But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 10:33
If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
1 Peter 4:14
Let's get the facts straight. The chaplain (I am a retired Army chaplain, by the way) was tried and convicted for wearing his uniform at a political rally after receiving a direct order from his commanding officer not to. The praying in Jesus name, which I am a strong believer in, is a smoke screen. Please, get the facts straight before declaring a Christian jihad on the Defense Department.
ping
I did 45 in a thirty and didn't get pulled over so there must not be a speed limit...
The UCMJ is structured such that one voluntarily gives up many civilian rights when the oath is taken. For example, how often does the military have trial by a jury of one's peers? It doesn't. There is NJP and courts martial. Ever hear of charges being dropped because a suspect wasn't read their Miranda rights? That's because they do not apply, at least not in the same way.
But He also said that we are to be subject to the governing authorities. If the governing authorities order me to not attend political rallies in uniform, I am obligated to follow that order. The chaplain did not comply with that order. Again, this has nothing to do with the format of his prayer.
The chaplain was NOT court martialed for praying in Jesus name! Why can't people get the facts staight?
Are you saying that chaplains are NOT prohibited from praying in Jesus name?
If so, that is GREAT news!
They are not, and never have been. Having said that, at gatherings that are more "civil" in nature, like a change of command ceremony invocation, or a holiday ceremony, chaplains are asked to respect the fact that there will be people of all stripes, and we were asked to be sensitive to that...and on those rare ocassions. we might pray something like, "in the Father's name" or "in Your holy name" - but in religious services, whether in garrison or in the field (or on board ship) we are free to do as our conscience dictates.
The same as any other Freedom. You practice it without infringing upon any other person's rights. A Christian can be a Christian whenever they choose but they cannot force say for instance a Jew to practice Christianity nor prohibit them from practicing Judaism. I would say you can practice wherever but as long as you don't violate private property rights. All Rights are respectful of one another.
Other than that the government is not to make any laws concerning religion. It seems like a pretty straight-forward thing but with all the PC these days you really do have to think about exactly what "infringe" means.
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