President Asked to Overturn Chaplain Prayer Restriction

 

A group of Christian Congressmen led by Congressman Walter Jones have asked for a Presidential Executive Order protecting military chaplains.  Several chaplains have been reprimanded for using overtly Christian language in public settings.  I have had an opportunity to meet with Congressman Jones, who is leading the congressional delegation on this important issue.  Congressman Jones related that officers have been criticized and even reprimanded for using Bible verses and invoking the name of Jesus in memorial services.  As Congressman Jones correctly noted, this is a First Amendment issue:  Our chaplains should not have any second thoughts about how they should pray.  Let their hearts speak with what God puts in their minds to pray. 

 

Congressman Jones went on to let me know that, so far, they have 35 House members who have agreed to sign a letter to President Bush asking for an Executive Order protecting the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith.  U.S. Senator James Inhofe, Republican from Oklahoma, has also pledged his support for the measure.

 

Part of the issue surrounds the proposed guidelines being introduced by the Air Force that emphasize nondenominational prayers in military ceremonies.  I have put together a senior team of lawyers from the American Center for Law & Justice to work on this issue.  Skip Ash, who has 20 years of experience in the military, including time at the Pentagon, is our lead lawyer working on this issue.  We are also seeking to gather support for Congressman Joness request for an Executive Order.  Our radio broadcast this week will be focusing in on this effort, and we encourage you to add your name to a letter going to the White House urging support for Congressman Joness efforts to restore First Amendment freedoms to military chaplains.