Free Republic

Christian lawmakers want to protect chaplains' speech By Leo Shane III, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Friday, October 21, 2005 Leo Shane III / S&S Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference Wednesday about military chaplains’ right to use Christian imagery and verses in their public remarks. With him are, from left, Rep. Mike McIntyre, R-N.C.; Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz; Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo.; and Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kansas. Air Force interim public prayer guidelines 1. Public prayer should not usually be included in official settings such as staff meetings, office meetings, classes or officially sanctioned activities such...

If, indeed, "there are no atheists in foxholes,” a new Air Force regulation may ensure that there is no Christian prayer there either. Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) is circulating a letter he sent to President George W. Bush, which alleges a new Air Force guideline urging "non-sectarian” prayer is "merely a euphemism declaring that prayers will be acceptable so long as they censor Christian beliefs.” The letter requests Bush to sign an executive order withdrawing the new regulation. Thus far, Rep. Jones has only gathered 32 signatures. He says more are to come. The Air Force regulation was authored by...

Conservative lawmakers in Congress are pressing President Bush to issue an executive order that they say would protect freedom-of-speech rights of military chaplains. Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) is spearheading the effort to persuade the Bush administration to ease the Pentagon’s policies on prayer. Jones will send a letter to the president tomorrow to make the case that Christian military chaplains in particular have been muzzled by the Department of Defense (DoD). The letter initiated by Jones has gathered 32 signatures. Jones told The Hill that he is expecting to have upwards of 50 signatures by tomorrow. Among those who signed...

In the place where terrorists crashed a plane into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, killing 189 people, a Torah scroll now resides in an ornate Israeli-built ark (aron kodesh). The Pentagon Chapel`s office and the Aleph Institute hosted a sefer Torah dedication ceremony on September 26. The historic and emotional event was celebrated with the participation of over 150 military personnel, guests and dignitaries who gathered at the Pentagon Memorial Chapel to recognize the Jewish members of the U.S. Armed Forces. In front of the standing-room-only crowd, Rabbi Shmuel Wolfman of Jerusalem completed the last letters of the scroll....

According to the Wesley Blog, Planned Parenthood has hired a chaplain, Dr. Ignacio Castuera. This chaplain, though, doesn’t serve the spiritual needs of people. Instead, he serves the public relations needs of Planned Parenthood (PP). Here’s the description of his responsibilities, from a PP press release: As chaplain, Dr. Castuera will act as a public spokesperson to promote Planned Parenthood's mission and vision. He will play a pivotal role in communicating the theological justification for choice, sexuality, and contraception to the Planned Parenthood community and the general public. He will also be available to provide advice to volunteer and staff...

      Chaplain Links U.S. Army Office of the Chief of Chaplains  Army Chaplain Center and School Army Chaplain Recruiting Pentagon Chaplain Fort Belvoir Chapels Fort Myer Memorial Chapel U.S. Air Force Air Force Chaplain Service Air Force Chaplain Service Recruiting Chaplain Assistance Apprentice Course Air Force Pastoral Care Links U.S. Marine Corps The Chaplain of The U.S. Marine Corps CREDO Main Page Marine Corps Family Team Building U.S. Coast Guard Coast Guard Headquarters Chaplain Coast Guard Prayers and Hymns Coast Guard Yard Chaplain's Home Page U.S. Navy Navy Chaplain Corps Navy Chaplain Recruiting Chaplain Care Naval Chaplains...

      MEDITATION ON SUCCESS "Do not let this Book of Law (The Torah) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." (Joshua 1:8) "Great success, like disgrace, can bring great trouble. Success which advances ego can make you lose your way." (Tao 13.) A lawyer once commented to me, "If you preachers ever convince people to live by the Ten Commandments, I will be out of business." Now there is a thought: lawyers out of business!...

[page 1 of Miami Herald] An Army chaplain cleared of espionage suspicions described the Guantánamo prison during his 2003 tour as a hotbed of anti-Muslim feelings. As a Muslim chaplain, Army Capt. James Yee made sure terrorism suspects at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, got pork-free halal meals and rugs for five-times-a-day prayer and wrote rules for soldiers to treat Islam's holy book, the Koran, with dignity. But, while the U.S. captain was held on suspicion of espionage, the military took away his Koran, refused him a prayer rug at a Navy brig -- and even for a few days fed him...

      MREs for the Soul(Motivational, Relevant, and Ecumenical words of hope and inspiration) WORDS THAT COUNT I think I'm safe in making the following observation: Most people have an interest in a person's last words before dying. Please, don't get me wrong! I don't mean a morbid or gossipy curiosity. In fact, it's very possible that we may experience a sense of reverence when witnessing or listening to a dying person's last words. When doing so, we want to capture a sense of significance in those words. After all, we'll never hear that person's voice again and...

An imam slated to be sworn in today as the second Muslim chaplain in Fire Department history, instead resigned after making controversial remarks on the Sept. 11 attacks in an interview with Newsday. "The Fire Department this morning received the resignation of Imam Intikab Habib from his position of FDNY Chaplain," said FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. "Based on comments he made to Newsday, Imam Intikab Habib would have been unable to effectively serve in the role he was appointed to." In a telephone interview Thursday, Habib, 30, a native of Guyana who studied Islam in Saudi Arabia, said he questioned...

NEW YORK - The fire department's new Muslim chaplain abruptly resigned Friday after saying in a published interview that a broader conspiracy, not 19 al-Qaida hijackers, may have been responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "It became clear to him that he would have difficulty functioning as an FDNY chaplain," Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta told reporters an hour before Imam Intikab Habib was to be officially sworn in. "There has been no prior indication that he held those views." Habib told Newsday in an interview published Friday that he was skeptical of the official version of the attack on...

AgapePress) Be careful about nodding your head, folks. It may get you run off. And be careful about affirming biblical truths. It may get you run off, or worse -- gasp! -- you might offend someone and be labeled intolerant and hateful. Meet Jon Moeller, Washington Nationals team chaplain. Or at least he was, until he had the audacity to answer a player's theological question, which is kind of in his job description. The question was asked by, ironically enough, outfielder Ryan Church: "Are Jews doomed because they don't believe in Jesus?" Before I go further, I must say this...

The Washington Nationals suspended a volunteer chaplain and distributed an apology from outfielder Ryan Church yesterday, two days after Church was quoted in a front-page Post article as suggesting that Jews are headed for eternal damnation. Tony Tavares, the team's president, issued a statement saying the quotations in the article "do not, in any manner, reflect the views or opinions of the Washington Nationals franchise."

      Why God Blesses And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel. 1 Chronicles 14:2 King David learned an important lesson every leader must learn if he is to ensure God's continual blessing. He knew why God blessed him. It wasn't because he deserved it, though he was a man who sought God with his whole heart. It wasn't because of his great skill, though he was a great military strategist. It wasn't because he was perfect,...

From Jews For JESUS: CONTROVERSY IN WASHINGTON Stevphen Katz Jews For Jesus I just got off a call with Jon Moeller, chapel leader for the Washington Nationals baseball team. He volunteers with a ministry called Baseball Chapel. Jon called me because he and Baseball Chapel are facing a challenge from the Jewish community, which has caught them offguard. THEY NEED OUR HELP. Here is the link to a 4-page article from Sunday's Washington Post. (If you must register to read it, it's free so go ahead and do it. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/17/AR2005091701522.html?sub=AR The article descibes how Baseball Chapel works, but there...

The Washington Nationals suspended a volunteer chaplain and distributed an apology from outfielder Ryan Church yesterday, two days after Church was quoted in a front-page Post article as suggesting that Jews are headed for eternal damnation.

      A HUMBLE SPIRIT It's always surprising to me when someone, in an honest and unguarded moment, confides that God could never use THEM. They may keep up appearances most of the time, but, down deep, they just don't feel worthy. Have you ever felt that way? If so, you're in luck; God places a high value on humility! In fact, your sincere recognition of your own need may just be the key that opens the door to a deeper, more genuine and rewarding spirituality. Isaiah wrote, "For thus says the High and Holy One Who inhabits...

      Chaplain’s Corner – September 11 2005 The Following Testimony is from Mr. Paul Brady: He is one of our 9-11 Survivors! I would be honored to bear witness to God's Mercy and Love as an entry on the Pentagon Chaplain's Web Site per your offer. Respectfully, Paul I feel like the "Ancient Mariner" in Coleridge's poem but I want to share my account of God's mercy, love and providence on that second "Day of Infamy" in our country's history. I have been describing the situation surrounding my escape from death from 9-11-01 and believe that my...

      THERE ARE NEEDS, AND THEN, THERE ARE NEEDS "The bird does not sing because he has an answer; he sings because he has a song."Old Chinese Proverb Peppermint Patty, of Peanuts cartoon fame, can be impatient at times. You Peanuts fans may recall one of those times. School was about to begin, and Peppermint Patty went shopping. She entered the store, and proceeded directly to the counter, and said, "Sir, I need some school supplies some pencils, some paper, a loose-leaf binder, and some answers. I need a lot of answers." Most of you have probably...

The growing influence of evangelical Protestants is roiling the military chaplain corps, where their desire to preach their faith more openly is colliding with long-held military traditions of pluralism and diversity. After accusations this summer that evangelical chaplains, faculty and coaches were pressuring cadets at the Air Force Academy, the Air Force yesterday issued new guidelines on respect for religious minorities. In the Navy, evangelical Protestant chaplains are fighting what they say is a legacy of discrimination in hiring and promotions, and they are bridling at suggestions they not pray publicly "in the name of Jesus."