This is why my oldest son decided not to pursue military chaplaincy. Which is a shame because he was very excited about the prospect of serving our military men and women and would have been good in that role.
Thanks for the ping, Doc. I saw it and meant to get back to it. (You have hastened the day. :>)
The author is basically correct, and I say that after a career as an Army Chaplain.
A chaplain is supposed to be a fully qualified, fully ordained minister/priest of the denomination he represents, and he is to fully represent them. That is his religious ministry.
On the other hand, there are roles a chaplain generally performs that are not specific to his religious identity. For example, in my years in service I had a couple assignments where I was uniquely used as a family counselor due to education I’d received. I was to counsel, train, and educate. Additionally, I was a trainer in terms of suicide prevention, long-distance relationships, deployment and redeployment family issues, etc.
There are other roles as a set of visitation eyes and ears for a commander that make a chaplain a resource for a commander on the morale of a unit as it relates to the chaplain’s expertise in morality, esprit, etc.
In short, not all of a chaplain’s time is used in uniquely religious pursuits.
So, given that a chaplain is to fairly represent his denomination but also be a human resource for a commander in non-religious concerns, what does that mean for Obama’s focus on freedom in religious matters.
Simply, that there won’t be freedom in non-religious matters.
For me, there’d be an easy work around. If I had to counsel a gay couple, I’d counsel them to break up. I wouldn’t have to paint a target on myself. I’d simply have to say that the “facts” point to their greater happiness apart from each other.
Really, though, the issue is being rated by a commander who can end your career with a bad rating. If he’s an old-army kind of guy, then you’re probably protected. If he’s a wingnut himself or craven toward them, then he’ll be on a crusade to root out those who believe homosexuality is deadly behavior for the poor souls who engage in it.