Military chaplains told to shy from Jesus

The Washington Times ^ | 12/21/05 | Julia Duin

[piperpilot]

To pray -- or not to pray -- in Jesus' name is the question plaguing an increasing number of U.S. military chaplains, one of whom began a multiday hunger strike outside the White House yesterday.

"I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus' name," said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who will be holding 6 p.m. prayer vigils daily in Lafayette Park.

The hunger strike is intended to persuade President Bush to issue an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their individual faith traditions. The American Center for Law and Justice has gathered 173,000 signatures on a petition seeking an executive order.

Seventy-three members of Congress have joined the request, saying in an Oct. 25 letter to the president, "In all branches of the military, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christian chaplains to use the name of Jesus when praying."

About 80 percent of U.S. troops are Christian, the legislators wrote, adding that military "censorship" of chaplains' prayers disenfranchises "hundreds of thousands of Christian soldiers in the military who look to their chaplains for comfort, inspiration and support."

Official military policy allows any sort of prayer, but Lt. Klingenschmitt says that in reality, evangelical Protestant prayers are censored. He cites his training at the Navy Chaplains School in Newport, R.I., where "they have clipboards and evaluators who evaluate your prayers, and they praise you if you pray just to God," he said. "But if you pray in Jesus' name, they counsel you."

Muslim, Jewish and Roman Catholic chaplains are likewise told not to pray in the name of Allah, in Hebrew or in the name of the Trinity, he added.

[montag813]

The principle of separation is breached by virtue of the fact that the State is employing clergy of any religion.

Quite the contrary. The intent of the Amendment is not one of exclusion, but inclusion. More religion, not less, certainly not none. There is nothing out of bounds with employing clergy.

[P8riot]

Exactly. They should pray according to their faith anyway. Who cares what the government thinks. Christians have suffered for the sake of Christ and in his name for millenia. What makes these guys think that they are above that?

[colorado tanker]

Young Navy chaplain being mustered out against his wishes? I may be a cynic, but I wonder if this has more to it than his style of prayer.

[derllak]

I can't imagine any Christian chaplains going along with this.
Just who are they supposed to pray too then? Without Jesus, a christian's faith is fruitless. They might as well just get rid of all the Chaplains. I wouldn't even believe this if JESUS hadn't warned us about it in the bible.
Men will fall from faith and become lovers of themselves - so sad to see it happen right before my very eyes.

[Freepdonia]

All you need to do is attend a Catholic mass to find out that Jesus is the only person that we worship. But I assume you probably think that you would burst into flames if you stepped into a Catholic church, so that's off, I guess. :-)

[nmh]

I understand what you're saying ... I've learned allot form my daughters Christian school. On FR I step out alitle more. I suppose it's a place to vent alittle. Too many times the news disgusts me - like the article on this thread.

[nmh]

"All you need to do is attend a Catholic mass to find out that Jesus is the only person that we worship. But I assume you probably think that you would burst into flames if you stepped into a Catholic church, so that's off, I guess. :-) "

Thanks for the offer. Most of our church are ex-Catholics. Again, they're very nice people. You have idiots like Kerry and fabulous people like Phyllis Shaffey (spelling). It's not a gender issue either. It's about what the Bible states and what people do and believe instead. I also have no doubt that, (gasp) many Catholics truly love Christ - it's not about that - it's the extraneous teachings that are problematic like praying TO Mary etc..

[IntheHillsGolden]

"many Catholics truly love Christ - it's not about that - it's the extraneous teachings that are problematic like praying TO Mary etc.."

Wow.............those words really look clueless.

And back to the story.......if Military Chaplains are really told to "shy from Jesus", then we don't need Chaplains. They won't have any affiliation to Religion or any job to do, IMO.

The World is getting stupider and colder by the day.

[nmh]

I was thinking about my experience in a Catholic church ... this goes back a few years ... I was party of the wedding party and of course the bride and groom in both weddings had to kneel and pray to Mary. Both are nice people ... today like others they are divorced ... no has nothing to do with being Catholic ... I've never been a Catholic but through situations like that I've experienced the differences.

The problem I usually encounter is people personalizing criticism of what they believe on FR. For me it's not about that - it's about "traditions" and teachings that don't align with what the Bible states.

Take care.

[churchillbuff]

This has nothing to do with the President. It has to do with the DOD, Air Force. """

Right. He's not the commander in chief or anything like that.

[churchillbuff]

You maybe surprised, but even though he's Christian, and may discuss it in regards to his personal life, he is a leader to many who are not Christian - that's why his Christmas cards are "Holiday cards", etc."""

Excuse me, but Bush Sr. was also "leader to many who are not Christian," and HIS Christmas cards said CHRISTMAS. Clinton then changed that tradition - - censored the word "Christmas" out of the presidential "holiday" card. You may think Clinton did a good thing - - but I disagree.

[churchillbuff]

I can't imagine any Christian chaplains going along with this. """

I can, if they're Bushbots. There are many freepers who will support anything that comes out of the federal government, as long as Bush is president.

[spkpls4]

You take me out of context. My reply was only to the quote that I posted from the article in regards to the AF Academy and what started this in the first place.

[Galveston Grl]

The constitution protects everyone's right to pray how they want to pray in America. This guy should fight against the establishment of a Jesusless government "religion." The Federal Government does not get to tell people how to pray and if they do they are breaking the law and no one should to accept that without a big fight.

[af_vet_rr]

Excuse me, but Bush Sr. was also "leader to many who are not Christian," and HIS Christmas cards said CHRISTMAS. Clinton then changed that tradition - - censored the word "Christmas" out of the presidential "holiday" card. You may think Clinton did a good thing - - but I disagree.

I'm not saying it's a good thing, and I'm not saying it's something I'd do - I'm simply saying that it's something that has to be accepted.

Nobody twisted Bush's arm to continue Clinton's tradition. He could say "service chaplains can refer directly to Jesus Christ", but he doesn't, and so those service chaplains have to accept what the leadership says, until President Bush's boss - the American people, say otherwise.

I presented an alternative as well - even if President Bush and the military don't want to directly refer to Christmas or Jesus Christ or whatever in an official capacity, there is nothing stopping servicemembers from gathering in the name of Jesus Christ.

[Lion in Winter]

In Russia they NOW have Christian education in the public schools. Amazing isn't it?

I saw a picture on the net where some Russian priests were blessing the troops with CROSSES!!!

The world turned upside down!

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

You do not know nmh

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

You don't need to lower yourself, I love it. Perhaps you can continue to believe that you really do love Catholics and mean them well, You don't.

As to your post, you continue to get it wrong. We do not pray to them we ask them for their prayers. Don't patronize me. You ask friends to pray for you, at least I hope you do, if not, it must be a lonely walk. Its the same thing. Do all Freepers a favor and stop pretending to understand Catholicism. You do both it a disservice, as well as yourself.

[nmh]

You won't get through to them.

They pray TO Mary. They "pray the rosary". They pray TO fallible dead mortals. Mary is their "co-redeemer". Their communion is imagining they are literally drinking His blood and eating His flesh ... imaginary cannibalism and it goes on and on and on.

When confronted, they get very ugly but typically won't deny it. None of it is Biblical. In fact, it is condemned. When confronted with verses that do not agree with this stuff, again name calling is their defense or another fallible mortal does it so that makes it right ... . Numbers determine "truth" for many of them.

It's too bad God doesn't see it that way:

Matt.7:14

[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

If they were familiar with the Bible they wouldn't be "practicing" this. You can only hope their eyes and heart are eventually opened before it is too late. Yeah, I know they'll ridicule this too ... so what else is new ... .

[bethelgrad]

Well said Joe. I'm a chaplain and what you just described is exactly what we are taught from day one.