White House Announces Strong Opposition to Religious Freedom in Military

The New American ^ | 15 June 2013 | Dave Bohon

[VitacoreVision]

The Obama administration announced that it "strongly objects" to an amendment in the National Defense bill that would protect the religious freedoms of America's military personnel.

White House Announces Strong Opposition to Religious Freedom in Military

The New American
15 June 2013

The Obama Administration has released a statement saying that it “strongly objects" to an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would protect the religious freedoms of men and women in the armed forces. The amendment (Section 530), offered by U.S. Representative John Fleming (R-La.), would specifically expand the “protection of rights of conscience of members of the Armed Forces and chaplains,” according to language in the amendment.

In its statement of objection the Obama Administration noted that the amendment "would require the Armed Forces to accommodate, except in cases of military necessity, 'actions and speech' reflecting the 'conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the member.'" The White House complained that by “limiting the discretion of commanders to address potentially problematic speech and actions within their units, this provision would have a significant adverse effect on good order, discipline, morale, and mission accomplishment.”

Fleming insisted that the amendment is necessary to counter the increasing animosity toward religious freedom among military personnel. "The men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms should not have their own religious freedom jeopardized during their military service," the congressman said in a statement when he introduced the measure June 5. He emphasized that the amendment would help "ensure that men and women of faith will not be discriminated against in the Armed Forces and will be free to exercise their religious beliefs."

He noted that some armed forces personnel, "particularly chaplains, feel like their ability to execute their duties is being greatly limited by some of the policies and actions in the Pentagon." While "steps to protect the religious liberties of our Armed Forces were taken in last year's NDAA," Fleming recalled, "troubling reports indicate that the military may be focused only on protecting beliefs of service members, and not the exercise or expression of those beliefs."

Among the examples of such "troubling reports" over the past year was news that:

- Training material used by the Army Reserve had identified Protestant Christians, Catholics, and Orthodox Jews as "religious extremist" similar to al-Qaeda and Hamas.

- The U.S. Army blocked military personnel from accessing the website of the Southern Baptist Convention, citing unnamed "hostile content" on the site.

- The Defense Department confirmed that military personnel could face disciplinary action -- including court-martial -- for sharing their faith with others.

- Christian prayers were temporarily banned during funeral services for veterans at Houston's National Cemetery.

- Bibles were prohibited for a short time at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

- Crosses and a steeple were removed from a chapel in Afghanistan after military officials determined they were antagonistic to other religions.

Following the administration's statement of opposition to the measure, Fleming said that it appeared the president is attempting to block religious freedom among the troops. "With its statement, the White House is now endorsing military reprimands of members who keep a Bible on their desk or express a religious belief," he told Fox News. "This Administration is aggressively hostile towards religious beliefs that it deems to be politically incorrect."

Several conservative Christian policy groups responded to the White House statement, with Kellie Fiedorek, litigation counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, arguing that the response demonstrates that President Obama clearly "opposes constitutional religious freedom for service men and women." Fiedorek called the response the "latest example of this administration's hostility toward religious service members. Antagonism toward people of faith -- namely Christians -- in the military is real, and it is disappointing that the President is unwilling to support laws that protect and defend the basic liberty of religious freedom."

Similarly, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council said President Obama's opposition to the amendment "reveals that this Administration has gone beyond accommodating the anti-Christian activists who want to remove any vestige of Christianity from the military, to aiding them by blocking this bipartisan measure."

Perkins observed that the the Fleming amendment "protects the right of service members to not only hold religious beliefs, but to act on them and freely practice those beliefs as long as they pose no threat to U.S. Constitutional liberties. This chilling suppression of religious freedom is driving faith underground in our military and will eventually drive it out. This not only deprives those who serve of the benefits that flow from religious participation, but it undermines the moral foundation of the world's most powerful military and the country they serve."


Related Articles:

Pentagon Confirms That Soldiers Could Be Court-Martialed for Sharing Faith

Christians Are Extremists Like al-Qaeda, U.S. Army Taught Troops

Obama Administration's War on Religion

Following Flak, Walter Reed Military Hospital Overturns Bible Ban

[EQAndyBuzz]

It’s no longer god and country. It is now Democrat and atheist.

[jazusamo]

Yep, this sorry excuse for a president and CinC goes after religious freedom in the military but supports the below.

This is sickening, a sanctioned "meet and greet" for the LGBT crowd:

LGBT military families celebrate historic event

[353FMG]

You think the dyed-in-the-wool democrat believes in a Heavenly Father?

If they did they would immediately leave the party.

[Amendment10]

If I didn’t know that this thread was about Obama, it reminds me of Mike Weinstein. I wonder how many times Mr. Weinstein has visited the WH, if any.

Note that if Congress was really serious about this amendment, as opposed to incumbents supporting possibly doomed amendment to campaign for 2014 elections, then the Constitution’s Clause 2 of Section 7 of Article I indicates that Congress can override presidential veto with enough votes.

[eyedigress]

Obama doesn’t know GOD. Reagan knew GOD.

Obama is going to learn who GOD is. Unfortunately, it will be a wrath upon us all.

[Bedford Forrest]

Hey Barry Soetero, you squalid little poofter, I hear you’ve got carriers offshore covering your travels to some west african sh*thole. Be careful Barry, most of those tailhook drivers are God fearing types. They probably aren’t happy with some little faggot [like you] telling them they can’t pray. Catch my drift, down low with Barry O??

[Recompennation]

- The Defense Department confirmed that military personnel could face disciplinary action — including court-martial — for sharing their faith with others.
Unbelievable! what about fort hood shooting Was that faith
based also?

[celtic gal]

It also tells us how stupid, even some well educated professionals are, who would say things like “ I am not going to read any articles about Obama...I am going to listen to the debates and then decide”...yep a dentist said that....and voted for 0bama.
So many limited information voters are responsible for the mess we are in as well.

[Secret Agent Man]

this thing in the White House is not a Christian. He hates Christians.

What Christian wears a ring imscribed with the first part of the muslim credo “There is no God but Allah”? No Christian would wear such a ring. Obama does.

[mrsmel]

We are without a doubt in the End Times, before the Rapture and then the seven years Tribulation. If things are this bad now, it’s unimaginable how evil the times will be during the Tribulation.

[SatinDoll]

Oh, it is so hard but I did the same with my nephew.

I served in the Navy, as did my father and grandfather. It would have been a continuation of a family tradition, but because of Obama he has decided otherwise. Wise choice.

[ScottinVA]

“Defend this...Just remember, the Heavenly Father will have the last word.”

In their twisted minds, liberals believe he just did when he stated his opposition to freedom of religion in the military. Their concept of “god” is.... different.

[ScottinVA]

I did the same thing with two nephews of mine. I think way too highly of them to see them enter a four-year commitment into what is now a social Petri dish.

[ronnie raygun]

Muslims excuded, thier protected by the constitution of the United States

[Arrowhead1952]

Canteen ping list.

[Lady Jag]