Posted on 05/16/2012 2:00:38 AM PDT by markomalley
The Obama administration strongly objects to provisions in a House defense authorization bill that would prohibit the use of military property for same-sex marriage or marriage-like ceremonies, and protect military chaplains from negative repercussions for refusing to perform ceremonies that conflict with their beliefs, according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
In a policy statement released Wednesday, the OMB outlined numerous objections to aspects of the fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 4310). The bill was reported out of the House Armed Services Committee last week and is set to be debated in the House, beginning Wednesday.
Overall, it recommends that President Obama veto H.R. 4310 if its cumulative effects impede the ability of the Administration to execute the new defense strategy and to properly direct scarce resources.
The veto warning is not specifically linked to the two provisions dealing with marriage, but they are listed among parts of the bill which the administration finds objectionable.
The memo said the two provisions adopt unnecessary and ill-advised policies that would inhibit the ability of same-sex couples to marry or enter a recognized relationship under State law.
Section 536 of H.R. 4310 states in part that no member of the armed forces may direct, order, or require a chaplain to perform any duty, rite, ritual, ceremony, service, or function that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the chaplain, or contrary to the moral principles and religious beliefs of the endorsing faith group of the chaplain.
Further, no member of the armed forces may discriminate or take any adverse personnel action against a chaplain, including denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment, on the basis of the refusal by the chaplain to comply with a direction, order, or requirement that is prohibited by the previous clause.
The OMB complained that, in its overbroad terms, section 536 is potentially harmful to good order and discipline.
Section 537 of H.R. 4310 states that [a] military installation or other property owned or rented by, or otherwise under the jurisdiction or control of, the Department of Defense may not be used to officiate, solemnize, or perform a marriage or marriage-like ceremony involving anything other than the union of one man with one woman.
That provision, the OMB said in the memo, would make it obligatory for the department to deny Service members, retirees, and their family members access to facilities for religious ceremonies on the basis of sexual orientation, a troublesome and potentially unconstitutional limitation on religious liberty.
Obama in December 2010 signed into law legislation repealing a ban on homosexuals and lesbians serving openly in the military. Last week he publicly endorsed same-sex marriage for the first time.
The House Armed Services Committee passed H.R. 4310 on May 9 by a 56-5 bipartisan vote, the only nays coming from Democratic Reps. Chellie Pingree (Me.), John Garamendi (Calif.), Tim Ryan (Ohio), Hank Johnson (Ga.) and Jackie Speier (Calif.).
The two provisions dealing with marriage were passed earlier the same day by much smaller margins, largely along party lines.
The amendment on the use of military installations for same-sex ceremonies, introduced by Rep. Steve Palazzo (R-Miss.), passed by 37-24, with only three Democrats Reps. Mike McIntyre (N.C.), Madeleine Bordallo (Guam) and Larry Kissell (N.C.) voting with the Republican majority.
The amendment establishing a conscience protection clause for military chaplains, introduced by Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), passed by 36-25, with North Carolina Democrats McIntyre and Kissell again voting in favor.
**ping**
It appears that Mr. Obama wants to force his perverse religious beliefs down the throats of everybody he can. I just wonder when he will use the power of the IRS to impose his sociological views upon civilian churches (if he intends to do so with military chaplains, all of whom must be accredited by their (civilian) denominations, the next step would be to force himself directly upon the denominations themselves).
Sounds like the American public has been, once again, sucked into a bait-and-switch routine (sort of like the now-disproven cliches of: “If you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance” or “PPACA will save you money”)
((And no, I would never dream of using double-entendre when making a post about this subject))
This is the can of worms conservatives feared about responding to queers` stated desires to be simply allowed to be queers in the military. What a ***king disaster this bastard boy king has made of our Armed Forces.
Though I was in the AF for nearly three decades, I absolutely can not in good conscience recommend the military for young people... at least not ones I like.
Shame on this administration and the heathens who elected him.
Mr. Obama has again proven this: he will do anything he thinks he can to achieve anything he wants. If force is needed, he’ll use it. If it requires theft, so be it. If lies will do it, very well. Underneath all, these are classic signs of individuals of a certain caliber, on the left, ONLY. That category is the one we usually label Totalitarian. The only thing that can be trusted about him is that he will do whatever he thinks he can get away with. Period.
Is that real, or is it photoshop?
“It's fun to go to the U S Army-U S Army”
“Young man young man you can jump who you please, young man young man catch a social disease”
I don’t know I found it on the net, but I wouldn’t doubt if it is real seeing how he all but gets on his knees bowing and kissing butt to slimbags like Chavez.
Look like I made the right decision.
I believe it. It just amazes me that he hasn’t been tarred and feathered yet.
Obama has spoken. Opposition is futile.
Military Chaplains have been around a long time, but it looks like this is an pfficial effort to do away with religion in the military, soon to be forced onto civilians.
It’s happening. We see it, and nothing is being done about it.
Church’s should be blasting this at every service.
This could become a big deal.
Any comment sought from the MOOSELIMB "chaplains" in the military.
I bet if they did and they objected, that would be the end of Dear Leader's push against this legislation, but we know that ain't gonna happen and the Islamist Imams who are in the Military are not going to utter a peep less they expose their mysoginistic and virulent anti-gay (the HANG them in the countries they control) position as outlined in their "holy book" (Koran) and their Sharia.
Sure he can. He just uses executive orders and no one even tries to stop him.
Imagine that, a muzzy chaplain performing a same sex marriage on a military base.
Chaplains cannot be required to perform same sex marriages. They are, by law, brought on as representatives of their denomination, and are required to be full representatives of that denomination.
Therefore, a Catholic could not be required, because the Priest MUST abide by his denominational teaching.
A UCC chaplain, since his denom accepts gay marriage, could perform such a marriage.
The legality of any marriage, though, would be dependent on the state. The persons involved STILL have to get a marriage license from the state in which they perform the ceremony. The chaplain could not perform a non-legal marriage. There must be a marriage license.
For example, after the NCarolina law, there will be no such thing as a marriage license issued to a Ft Bragg troop from a NCarolina government office.
There are a lot of hurdles to this. I never ran across a Federal marriage license. Perhaps they exist. I never saw one.
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