Posted on 03/29/2011 3:05:41 PM PDT by NYer
The U.S. Army has officially threatened military chaplains they must either embrace the new openly homosexual military, resign from service, or face court-martial for their "religious, conscience" objections. The Pray In Jesus Name Project has obtained leaked copies (unintended for media disclosure) of a private briefing given to chaplains, threatening them with court-martial unless they compromise their Christian message.
Christian Chaplains who speak out against homosexual sin can be accused of "harassment" by homosexuals and face disciplinary action simply for voicing their religious views outside the "context" of their religious ministry.
[Chaps' interpretation: The phrase "vocational reflection" is not-so-subtle code language meaning "reconcile with homosexuality or find another line of work." The phrase "do NOT tolerate harassment" is code language for "don't speak against sin, for ANY reason, or you the Chaplain will be disciplined for quoting the Bible, and the homosexual protected."] More fine print from the text from the Army's presentation is directly quoted as follows:
ARMY: "You may hear the language, 'Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual', or 'GLB' at certain times in reference to homosexual Soldiers. As of today the Army has not directed the use of the any specific reference term but has accepted the usage of these terms."
ARMY: "You may, in appropriate circumstances and within the limitations of law and policy, express your moral or religious beliefs regarding sexual orientation. However, you may NOT make statements detrimental to good order and discipline and must obey lawful orders. You do NOT have the right to refuse duty or duty assignments based on a moral objection to another's sexual orientation."
[Chaps' Interpretation: the phrase 'appropriate circumstances' will soon mean ONLY in the context of Sunday chapel, thus Chaplains can be punished for private counseling, or speech outside of chapel, or speech inside chapel on Monday through Saturday, just as I was punished in writing 3 times for quoting the Bible in optional Saturday chapel services.]
ARMY: "You remain obligated to follow orders that involve interaction with others who are homosexual even if an unwillingness to do so is based on strong, sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. As expressed in the Manual for Courts-Martial regarding a Soldier's obligation to obey orders: 'the dictates of a person's conscience, religion, or personal philosophy cannot justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.'"
[Chaps' Interpretation: the phrase 'lawful order' will mean ANYTHING ANTI-CHRISTIAN COMMANDERS WISH and judges will back up the Commander, not the Chaplain. I know from personal experience, when a Navy Judge said my Navy Commander could punish me, a chaplain, for disobeying "lawful orders" because I was quote "worshiping in public."]
Bottom Line: Army Chaplains will now be punished at court-martial for "disobedience" of "lawful orders" if they dare to express their religious views about homsexual sin outside of Sunday chapel.
MILITARY CHAPLAINS FACE CHARGES OF "HATE SPEECH"
The Pray In Jesus Name Project was featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week, with YOUR fax petition campaign to Congress getting noticed. Reporter Ann Rogers interviewed military chaplains who fear persecution by the Obama Administration, especially now that open homosexual service is being fast-tracked in violation of the rights of many Christian troops.
"The majority of 3,000 chaplains are theologically conservative Christians, many of whom worry that they will be accused of hate speech if they preach that same-sex relationships are sinful," the paper reports.
"The Pray in Jesus Name Project, which supports conservative chaplains, has called the Pentagon guidelines the 'plan to purge Christians' from chaplaincy.
"'Now the Obama Administration is officially on record pressuring chaplains to quit the service if they cannot 'reconcile' with homosexual sin that violates their Christian conscience,' said a petition on its website.
"The 'purge' is a clause that says chaplains have an option to leave the military that isn't open to others who object to serving with gay troops. They can ask their faith group to withdraw its endorsement, which would trigger a discharge.
"Retired Brig. Gen. Douglas E. Lee, a former Army chaplain who endorses for six conservative Presbyterian bodies, is less alarmist, but shares the concern that protection of religious freedom may erode.
"The fundamental issue for us is morality, but the debate is being purposely framed as a civil rights or a discrimination issue," he said.
"Homosexuality is 'just another sin that affects soldiers, airmen, guardians and Marines. However no other category that we would declare as sin is ... claiming civil rights to be a serial adulterer.'
"Any charges of hate speech will 'depend on how the chaplains handle themselves,' said the Rev. John Gundlach, a retired Navy chaplain and endorser for the United Church of Christ, which affirms gay sexuality."
Charges of hate speech against military chaplains? Even the pro-homosexual liberals admit the charges are coming. The full article may be read here. But suffice it to say we need to petition Congress to protect our Christian troops and Chaplains right to open religious expression, the same way the Obama Administration is now flaunting open homosexual expression.
The Obama Administration has now begun writing policies that will result in discharge of Christian Chaplains and troops who cannot "reconcile" with homosexual sin. Below are four shocking proof examples revealing how the purge has already begun, and why we must fight back NOW by demanding Congress investigate and pass strong laws defending our troops right to religious freedom starting with H.R. 268 which has not yet passed in 6 years, clearly defending military chaplains' right to pray publicly "in Jesus name."
1. Report: Chaplains who can't "reconcile" with homosexual sin will be separated.
The newly released Pentagon plan to purge Christians entitled "DADT Report: Support Plan for Implementation" specifically requires Christian chaplains to "reconcile" with homosexual sin or face administrative discharge. It repeats twice on pages 30 and 57: "If a chaplain is unable to reconcile serving with or caring for gay and lesbian Service members with his or her faith, the chaplain may request that the relevant endorsing agency withdraw its ecclesiastical endorsement for him or her. This would trigger an administrative separation under DoDI 1304.28." Wow. Now the Obama Administration is officially on record pressuring Chaplains to quit the service if they cannot "reconcile" with homosexual sin that violates their Christian conscience. This "plan" alone should alarm the new conservative Congress to the need for bold protection of Chaplains' rights. Let's help...
2. Chaplains will have religious "freedom" only in context of Sunday chapel.
The Pentagon report dubiously promises to protect Chaplains' freedoms, "in the context of their religious ministry," claiming they won't need to change their sermons, counseling, prayers, or worship. But speaking from personal experience as a former Navy chaplain, I can decode the secret word "context" to mean chaplains clearly WON'T have religious freedom outside of that "context." As proof, in my case the Navy twice declared the only safe religious "context" was ONLY inside a Sunday chapel. As a chaplain I was punished in writing three times for quoting the Bible EVEN inside chapel, but since the optionally-attended worship service was held on a Saturday, not a Sunday, Navy investigators sided with the Commander who punished my sermons. Later a Navy judge ruled that my Thursday prayers outside the White House were "not public worship" which was only safe in the context of Sunday chapel, instead finding me guilty of the misdemeanor crime of "worshipping in public" in uniform which he said was NOT protected by federal law, so my commander could order me to stop "worshipping in public" in uniform. Say what? Because my prayers in Jesus name were not said in the proper "context," they were properly punished, the Navy judge ruled to punish the chaplain.
3. Battalion Commander relieved of duty for refusing to "endorse" open sin.
One Senior Officer in the Army National Guard has already been relieved of his battalion-level commanding officer job after stating his conscience would not allow him to participate in "re-education" training that will soon force young Christians to learn how to respect homosexual sin. "Today is my last day in command," the career Army officer told WND.com, anonymously for fear of losing his retirement. "From now on I'll be a staff officer without a bunch of people working under me, so I won't have the moral conflict with having to enforce this new policy on them...When I retire I will speak on the record. I don't know how much I can do before that. Sooner or later I'm going to get told to shut up. If I continue to make statements, it might become a witch hunt. I don't want to lose my retirement unless it comes to the point they tell me I have to attend the [pro-'gay'] training."
4. Left demands punishment of Christian Colonel who is taking a stand.
Atheist bloggers and anti-Christian complainers are demanding punishment for one heroic career Army officer, Lt. Col. Stacy L. Maxey, who said he will exercise his legal right to take a stand for Jesus against homosexual sin by publicly expressing his Christian beliefs.
In a letter to Stars and Stripes entitled "Won't Choose To Deal With It," Lt. Col. Maxey took a stand, and wrote:
"So let me see if I understand this: The Defense Department is proposing to let people who choose to live a homosexual lifestyle serve 'openly' in the armed forces, but won't allow Christians such as myself the freedom to 'openly' share the good news of Christ with our co-workers - as the faith we've chosen requires?
"DOD officials plan to tell servicemembers who have a problem with those living a homosexual lifestyle to 'learn to deal with it,' but they are prepared to counsel and/or slap Christians with paperwork if someone feels "offended" by our witness? Wearing sexual lifestyle choices on your sleeve is OK, but not your faith?
"Military chaplains who teach that homosexuality is antithetical to and incompatible with Christianity (which it is) can either muzzle their objections or 'leave,' but gays will be permitted to parade their lifestyle choices in front of all?
"Bottom line: So I'm free to express myself if I'm a homosexual, but not if I'm a Christian? What disgraceful hypocrisy.
"Here's the truth: I will continue to witness to who I want, when I want and where I want. My commitment to my God supersedes my commitment to the DOD and, if officials are upset about that, then I guess they can 'learn to deal with it.'
"Department of Defense? More like the Department of Double Standards."
--Lt. Col. Stacy L. Maxey, Afghanistan
Exactly right. There were some who claimed that this wouldn’t happen. They were wrong.
And when the dust settles and all the chaplains who cannot compromise what God’s word actually says about homosexuality are forced to resign, what kind of chaplains will be left?
The first thing the gays will take over once DADT is lifted, will be the JAG offices.
I guess a lot of Catholic soldiers won’t be getting their last rights, before they die. ................... Hmmmmmmmmm? wouldn’t there be a couple of gay priests around for that? Oh, there are none of those?
It was happening long before now. This is just the latest in a long series of outrages designed to weaken our military and compromise our national principles. We are losing this war.
I would have to get the court martial, or get out of the military.
Zot chaplins. Yeah. Good goin’ Amerika
Even on FR there are some that are fooled.
That is what I was thinking. How can they justify this? Never mind, muslims are allowed.
The kind that will demonstrate that the Chaplain Corps should have been disbanded, once DADT was lifted, and open homosexuality in the ranks permitted...
the infowarrior
pure evil...
We certainly are.
‘the dictates of a person’s conscience, religion, or personal philosophy cannot justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.’”
Adolf Hitler would have loved that rule—”let the state
take precedence over your conscience”...
Well there are plenty of gay evangelical ministers for the protestants.
Yes. It may have simply been denial, but life in this country has changed dramatically in the last two years. We need to face the facts.
True...
This is just the latest in a long series of outrages designed to weaken our military and compromise our national principles.
Again, indisputable...
We are losing this war.
If one truly believes the Scriptures, then one would have known that it was inevitable. The reign of the Antichrist cannot take root until the human forces which would resist his takeover are swept aside. It isn't 'our' war to win, to begin with, but G-d's, and win it he will.
Take heart, and keep a strong hold on your faith, for the Kingdom of G-d will not be long in coming, once the darkness has had its way for a short time...
the infowarrior
- 1. It repeats twice on pages 30 and 57: "If a chaplain is unable to reconcile serving with or caring for gay and lesbian Service members with his or her faith, the chaplain may request that the relevant endorsing agency withdraw its ecclesiastical endorsement for him or her.
- 2. Chaplains will have religious "freedom" only in context of Sunday chapel.
The Pentagon report dubiously promises to protect Chaplains' freedoms, "in the context of their religious ministry," claiming they won't need to change their sermons, counseling, prayers, or worship.
- 3. Battalion Commander relieved of duty for refusing to "endorse" open sin.
One Senior Officer in the Army National Guard has already been relieved of his battalion-level commanding officer job after stating his conscience would not allow him to participate in "re-education" training that will soon force young Christians to learn how to respect homosexual sin.
- 4. Left demands punishment of Christian Colonel who is taking a stand.
In a letter to Stars and Stripes entitled "Won't Choose To Deal With It," Lt. Col. Maxey took a stand, and wrote:
"DOD officials plan to tell servicemembers who have a problem with those living a homosexual lifestyle to 'learn to deal with it,' but they are prepared to counsel and/or slap Christians with paperwork if someone feels "offended" by our witness? Wearing sexual lifestyle choices on your sleeve is OK, but not your faith?
In the above, I would respond to former chaplain Klingenschmidt (I believe) as follows:
1. No chaplain or pastor should ever have trouble "serving with or caring for" any person involved in any sin. We don't invite homosexuals to boycott our ministry, we encourage them to listen. That is why Paul was able to tell the Corinthian Christians that some of them had formerly been homosexual. The only way to minister to them is to minister to them. Ministry does not equal approval any more than a soup kitchen means endorsement of alcoholism or drug abuse. This is not the troublesome provision mentioned by the military.
2. No need to change sermons, counseling, prayers, or worship. Klingenschmidt says this will only be at Sunday chapel. That simply isn't realistic because field ministry is not limited by "Sunday chapel." As a Navy chaplain, Klingenschmidt was not familiar with the Army's adage that for chaplains, "every day is Sunday." What it means is that when traveling to various squads and platoons scattered over hundreds of square miles it is not possible to see them all on Sunday.
"In the context of ministry" means that chaplains have both a religious support mission and a general support mission. Their religious support mission must by US Code be according to the faith tenets of their denomination.
One's "sermons, counseling, prayers, and worship" are always part of one's religious ministry. Attending a commander's briefing on the proper way to guide a vehicle at night through a bivouac area is not. It is not the time to stand up and talk about those who will be eternally lost.
3. This commander said he wanted to be relieved of his command rather than have to require his troops to participate in gay sensitivity training/indoctrination. I commend his honesty before-the-fact regarding the training. He should be permitted to resign a command, if he wants to.
If such training does not teach that all forms of fraternization and PDA are detrimental to good order and discipline in the same way as it teaches that hetero-sexual fraternization and PDA is detrimental to good order and discipline, then this commander is right on target.
We should have huge problems with that. If John and Suzy can't play lickey-face when in a military setting, and they can't, then Johnny and Mikey can't either. If Lt Dan and PFC Cutsey can't play hide the sausage because of rank differences, then neither can Lt Dan and PFC Dan.
4. Gays can be vocal, but Christians cannot. If the rules are that gays can verbalize their beliefs, but Christians can't, then that is wrong, too.
If the GayBlade can enthrall a room with his banter about how neat fisting is, then a Christian should be allowed to entrall all with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.
I never recall a time when sexual banter was acceptable speech. It was considered sexual harassment.
I hope they don't change that.
So, all in all, I've got 2 areas of agreement with Klingenschmidt and 2 areas where I think he's over-wrought.
Just my humble opinion based on 24+ years of Army service versus however many he had compiled with the Navy.
Thank you, xzins. Your opinion is valuable to me.
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