Posted on 01/05/2013 2:49:15 PM PST by NYer
WASHINGTON, D.C.,January 13, 2013, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Provisions that protect the conscience rights of military chaplains that were included in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) are “unnecessary and ill-advised” said President Obama in a signing statement this week.
Section 533 of the defense bill was crafted in response to fears that the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy under the Obama administration would lead to reprisals against chaplains who have moral objections to the homosexual lifestyle, or who refuse to perform same-sex “weddings.”
That section says that no member of the armed forces may “require a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the chaplain.”
It also says that they may not “discriminate or take any adverse personnel action against a chaplain” for refusing to perform the ceremonies.
The language was introduced by former Rep. Todd Akin, R-Missouri.
While the president signed the bill with the conscience protections intact, he issued a signing statement criticizing them.
“The military already appropriately protects the freedom of conscience of chaplains and service members,” Obama wrote, adding that his administration would make sure that implementing the provisions does not lead to any “discriminatory actions.”
“My administration remains fully committed to continuing the successful implementation of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and to protecting the rights of gay and lesbian service members; Section 533 will not alter that,” he said.
In May of last year, Obama endorsed gay “marriage” after years of claiming to be in support of traditional marriage.
In a statement following the signing of the defense bill, the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty called on President Obama and senior Department of Defense leaders to honor the religious liberty protections passed in the bill.
“Chaplains should be able to stand by their faith traditions and honor their commitment to God’s Word,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USAR retired, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “That’s a freedom that Congress sought to protect, and the president is not at liberty to disregard the law.”
Crews pointed out that several chaplains have already been approached about having same-sex services in military chapels.
“Every member of our armed forces should be able to serve without surrendering their beliefs,” he said.
Congress passed the conscience protection provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act with overwhelming bipartisan support.
In May 2008, while campaigning for office, President Obama had promised that he would not issue “signing statements” when signing bills.
“I disagree with that [issuing signing statements],” he said. “I taught the Constitution for 10 years. I believe in the Constitution and I will obey the Constitution of the United States – we’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end-run around Congress.”
For any of you with children or grandchildren serving in the military.
The Post points out 2 lies of Obama’s, and we can only wait for the Executive Order to be signed forcing Chaplains to marry gays or be tossed out. It is coming as sure as the sun rises in the East.
If it were unnecessary and ill advised, why did Obama even mention it.No It’s coming, probably before the year is out.
Barry knows best, he’s the bestest dictator, ever!!!
Jeez, does he EVER tell the truth???
What really meant to say was:
"I taught the g.d. constitution for 10 years. The constitution should be smashed in the most complete way possible, as soon as possible. When we get into power we will do every end-run around congress we can get away with."
Unnecessary and ill-advised? Unnecessary I could see (if it were true), but ill-advised? ILL-ADVISED to include a provision that chaplains can’t be forced to act against their conscience and religious freedom?
As for unnecessary - we only need to look to other recent Obama-approved laws, such as the one Hobby Lobby is fighting, to see that THAT isn’t true.
In five days we will fundamentally change the way Washington does things
Can’t this be applied if they try to force chaplains?
“What is CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLE?”
A conscientious scruple against taking an oath, serving as a juror in a capital case, doing military duty, or the like, is au objection or repugnance growing out of the fact that the person believes the thing demanded of him to be morally wrong, his conscience being the sole guide to his decision; it is thus distinguished from an “objection on principle,” which is dictated by the reason and judgment, rather than the moral sense, aud may relate only to the propriety or expediency of the thing in question. People v. Stewart, 7 Cal. 143
http://thelawdictionary.org/conscientious-scruple/
If this pretender “taught the Constitution for 10 years” why have none of his students come forward? Fraud to the bone. What an oaf.
“What is CONSCIENCE?”
The moral sense; the faculty of judging the moral qualities of actions, or of discriminating between right and wrong; particularly applied to one’s perception and judgment of the moral qualities of his own conduct, but in a wider sense, de CONSCIENCE 248 CONSENSUS TOLLIT ERROREM noting a similar application of the standards of morality to the acts of others. In law, especially the moral rule which retinites probity, justice, and honest dealing between man and man, as when we say that a bargain is “against conscience” or “unconscionable,” or that the price paid for property at a forced sale was so inadequate as to “shock the conscience.” This is also the meaning of the term as applied to the jurisdiction and principles of decision of courts of chancery, as in saving that such a court is a “court of conscience,” that it proceeds “according to conscience,” or that it has cognizance of “matters of conscience.” See 3 Bl. Comm. 47-56: People v. Stewart, 7 Cal. 143; Miller v. Miller, 187 Pa. 572, 41 Atl. 277
http://thelawdictionary.org/conscience/
At least he didn't lie :)
If you tell a lie often enough...
I’m a retired Army Chaplain. Already anecdoatal evidence is coming forward that Chaplains are not being protected.
"These are not the men of faith you should be listening to..."
Looks to me like Signing Statements, as a guide to executive agencies in a wink-wink-nudge-nudge manner, acts just like an EO.
“My administration remains fully committed to continuing the successful implementation of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and to protecting the rights of gay and lesbian service members; Section 533 will not alter that,”
This Signing Statement, given the above SS wording, is merely advance notice of following the DADT repeal rather than this law - he is deeming Section 533 unconstitutional, null and void.
Basically, he is applying the notion of line-item-veto, even though that has already been determined time and time again unconstitutional.
Once again, Ø shreds the Constitution. As he does every chance he gets.
one wonders if there will be a second Obama inauguration
“Jeez, does he EVER tell the truth???”
The only statement Obama ever made that was the truth ran chills through my bones. I think I like him better as a liar.
Remember when he said “ We are five days away from fundamentally-transforming America”?
I think what he meant to say is
It’s necessary and prudent,
due to the violent behavior of my administration against religion.
At least that’s what I heard.
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