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Court-martialed chaplain declares victory
WND ^ | September 30, 2006

Posted on 09/30/2006 11:38:14 AM PDT by Kaslin

Congressional panel directs Navy to rescind policy barring 'sectarian' prayers

A Navy chaplain court-martialed for wearing his uniform during a public event in which he prayed in Jesus' name is declaring victory after a congressional conference committee agreed on a compromise rescinding a Navy policy that barred "sectarian" prayers.

"This is a tremendous victory for religious liberty," said Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt in an interview with WND. "Chaplains are free again to pray in Jesus name."

The conferees, working out differences between House and Senate versions of the Defense Appropriation Act, are directing the secretary of the Navy to rescind a Feb. 21 directive titled "Religious Ministry within the Department of the Navy" and a similar Air Force policy enacted Feb. 9.

The Navy policy stated: "Religious elements for a command function, absent extraordinary circumstances, should be non-sectarian in nature."

A command function is an official Navy event outside the traditional chapel or worship-service setting. By punishing him, the chaplain contended, the Navy stretched its "command function" requirement to every public event at which a chaplain wears his or her uniform.

But the move by Congress yesterday, on a bill expected to pass, will provide the basis to overturn his court-martial conviction, Klingenschmitt believes.

As WND reported, a jury of U.S. Naval officers Sept. 14 recommended a reprimand and a $250 fine per month for a year for Klingenschmitt, who insisted an appearance in front of the White House in which he prayed "in Jesus' name" was a bona fide religious event and he had written permission from his commander to wear his uniform at such events.

But the military judge ruled wearing his uniform during "public worship" is allowed only inside a chapel on Sunday, basing his decision on the policy addressed by Congress.

Klingenschmitt said he hopes Rear Adm. F.R. Ruehe, commander of the Navy's Mid-Atlantic region, who convened his court martial, will "respect Congress enough to never sign my letter of reprimand."

"If this does cost me my career, I don't mind," he said, however, "because other chaplains will now have the freedom that I was denied."

The Navy chaplain, who went without food for 18 days to protest the service's prayer policy, submitted a whistleblower complaint to Sen. Hillary Clinton and other lawmakers in June, charging top naval officials with violating the Constitution by affirming the actions of officers who, he said, barred him from praying in Jesus' name and quoting certain Bible passages during an optional worship service.

The complaint to Congress came after Ruehe and a top Navy lawyer capped an 18-month investigation by ruling the chaplain's superior officer, Capt. James R. Carr, had grounds for punishing him.

Military Judge Anita K. Baker, designated by Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter, endorsed the decision by Ruehe to dismiss Klingenschmitt's original complaint as being "without merit."

The subsequent court-martial centered on Klingenschmitt's participation in a March 30 event with former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore in front of the White House.

Klingenschmitt, a minister in the Evangelical Episcopal Church – which split from the liberal mainline denomination in the 1990s – insisted he was being punished by his superiors for praying in Jesus' name, in uniform, at the event.

Based on Ruehe's June ruling, he said the complaint against him also included preaching the gospel at an optional service – a memorial for a sailor.

Klingenschmitt believes the March 30 event qualified as one appropriate for wearing his uniform since the Navy Uniform Regulation "permits a member of the naval service to wear his or her uniform, without obtaining authorization in advance, incident to attending or participating in a bona fide religious service or observance."

In April, Capt. Lloyd Pyle presented the charge to Klingenschmitt. The chaplain had a choice of accepting a letter of reprimand or insisting on his rights to a court-martial. He chose the latter.

Pyle's letter said Klingenschmitt violated the Navy policy by "wrongfully wearing his uniform while attending and participating in a news conference in support of personal views on political and religious issues."

The event was meant to protest against the Navy policy requiring non-sectarian prayers in all but chapel settings.

As WorldNetDaily reported, in January Klingenschmitt received a letter from his commanding officer recommending he not wear his uniform at an earlier White House event, but not prohibiting it.

"If, despite my recommendation, you choose to participate in this (White House) event in uniform, you should limit your participation, while in uniform, to the 'bona fide religious service or observance,'" stated the letter.

In January, then, the chaplain broke his 18-day hunger strike by praying at the White House in uniform, for which he received no discipline.

"They gave me prior, written permission to wear my uniform, so long as I only said prayers," Klingenschmitt explained. "And that's all I did."


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: chaplains; klingenschmitt; military; usn
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1 posted on 09/30/2006 11:38:14 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
Heaven forbid we imprison people for praying to their God. Unless its Allah, in which case ACLU would approve.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

2 posted on 09/30/2006 11:41:57 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop

Sorry to disagree. He was a serving member of the military, and disobeyed an order.The conviction should stand.


3 posted on 09/30/2006 11:43:38 AM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: Kaslin

Praise the Lord. I am happy for him. Glad he stood up for Jesus.


4 posted on 09/30/2006 11:44:10 AM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Kaslin

Thanks for posting this.


5 posted on 09/30/2006 11:44:46 AM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: PzLdr
Sorry to disagree. He was a serving member of the military, and disobeyed an order.The conviction should stand.

Yes it should. But I'm glad to see the change in policy.
6 posted on 09/30/2006 11:46:31 AM PDT by Jaysun (Idiot Muslims. They're just dying to have sex orgies.)
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To: Kaslin

An answered prayer.


7 posted on 09/30/2006 11:48:11 AM PDT by Commander8 (Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16)
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To: Dubya
Would you be equally happy if he'd been a Muslim quoting from the Quran and calling for the death of infidels while wearing his uniform?

I think people are being a little short sighted in this case and jumping to unwarranted assumptions about the intent of the UN Navy.

8 posted on 09/30/2006 11:49:57 AM PDT by jess35
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To: jess35

OUCH! Make that US Navy.


9 posted on 09/30/2006 11:50:58 AM PDT by jess35
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To: jess35

I'll let you take up for the Muslims. I am a Christian.


10 posted on 09/30/2006 11:51:34 AM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Dubya

Nice way of ducking the issue.


11 posted on 09/30/2006 12:03:49 PM PDT by jess35
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To: Commander8
Jay Sekulow, America Center for Law and Justice, an organization funded and set up by Pat Robertson, is a huge part of getting this done.

Based in Washington, D.C., the American Center for Law and Justice specializes in constitutional law. Through our work in the courts and the legislative arena, the ACLJ is dedicated to protecting your religious and constitutional freedoms.

09.29.06 Legal & Legislative Recap: Among the topics to be updated: protecting the solemnity of military funerals, the constitutional free speech rights of military pastors...

http://www.aclj.org

12 posted on 09/30/2006 12:05:31 PM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand; but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: PzLdr
Agreed. He was ordered not to wear his uniform to a political rally. He ignored that order. GUILTY AS CHARGED!

LiteKeeper
Chaplain, US Army, retired...and a born-again Christian!

13 posted on 09/30/2006 12:52:47 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: jess35
Would you be equally happy if he'd been a Muslim quoting from the Quran and calling for the death of infidels while wearing his uniform?

No. I'd throw his rear end in the brig. The Constitution says nothing about the right to proselytize for a gangster death cult.

Next question.

14 posted on 09/30/2006 12:57:41 PM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: shield
Although Pat "opens mouth inserts foot" from time to time, his creation of the ACLJ to counteract the ACLU more than makes up for it. It is a wonderful organization that supports Christians in the same way that the ACLU supports atheists.

As far as the details of this case, I live in Jacksonville, NC, the home of Camp Lejeune where this Navy chaplain has been stationed. He was interviewed on a local radio talk show about the case and was very impressive. He was willing to stand up for what he believed because his allegiance is to God first and the Navy second. He was doing it for chaplains of ALL faiths, not just those who pray in Jesus name. I am glad that the order was rescinded due to his efforts!
15 posted on 09/30/2006 1:00:58 PM PDT by srmorton (Choose life!)
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To: jess35

Your comment is based on the false moral equivalence of all religions. That's a key difference between Islam and Christianity. When have you heard Christian ministers calling "death to infidals"?


16 posted on 09/30/2006 1:14:38 PM PDT by tjd1454
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To: jess35

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)




The above is the oath of an offier to serve the United States, not your un navy. perhaps the quran may work for you in your new world order. For Me, this nation is a Judeo-Christian from the start.

Till I can hear the volume of muslims overcoming the chirping of crickets, in regard to showing they are of action, rather than noise in regard to the way their religion is of peace, I'll buy into something more like this.
17 posted on 09/30/2006 1:17:31 PM PDT by Issaquahking (Trust can't be bought)
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To: LiteKeeper

Agreed...a pretty simple case, unfortunately he got off lightly.


18 posted on 09/30/2006 1:20:46 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: srmorton
If a christian has legal problems they can call ACLJ, and Jay will take that case. It's actually amazing how much ACLJ has done for the conservative cause.

Jay Sekulow has been all over this case on military pastor's and the Name of Jesus...in fact, I credit Jay Sekulow with the decision by the USAF to change their regulations back to using The Name of Jesus.

Pat Robertson has also done much for the conservative cause. I learned long ago to completely disregard what's reported negatively on Pat Robertson and our President, and the GOP, and and and....there's not much reported these days that can really be trusted, don't you think?

19 posted on 09/30/2006 1:22:11 PM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand; but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: Kaslin
A Navy chaplain court-martialed for wearing his uniform during a public event in which he prayed in Jesus' name is declaring victory after a congressional conference committee agreed on a compromise rescinding a Navy policy that barred "sectarian" prayers.

Another reason for conservatives to not sit home this November...

20 posted on 09/30/2006 1:25:12 PM PDT by streetpreacher (What if you're wrong?)
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