We can get into semantics and spend 50 posts defining terms. I used the term because that is how they defined the different denominations in the article.
Also, from the article:
"The fact is this success rate … is statistically significantly higher [by two standard deviations using a simple binomial test] than the … success rate which was experienced by the candidates who differed from the chief of chaplains," said Leuba, who has performed statistical analysis for a dozen businesses and agencies, including the Navy and the plaintiffs.
I am not a statistician by trade, but from a layman's perspective it does seem that there has been discrimination.
If a chaplain is passed over for promotion how does that affect his career and benefits?
If it’s a promotion to major it possibly will make getting his deferred pay as retirement much more difficult.
If it’s major to ltc, then it shouldn’t make a difference in almost all cases.
And my point is that the statistical variation is an anomaly based on the low numbers of Catholics.
A Catholic Chief of Chaplain will happen roughly 1 out of 2 or 1 out of 3 times. This will because Catholics should have 300 of the chaplain slots.
When a Catholic is promotable, the board has to consider the fact that catholic priests are under-represented and that a fully qualified priest almost always will go forward.
As I’ve pointed out, the ELCA is one of the few mainlines that even bother to send chaplains: Methodists, presbyterians, UCC, and CofCDisciples each have a few chaplains. To my knowledge, though, ELCA and Presbys are the only denominations to have the Chief’s job recently.