ACLJ Calls Revised Air Force Guidelines on Religion "Appropriate and Constitutional" -- Prayer by Chaplains to be Protected

February 9, 2006

(Washington, DC) The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, said revised interim guidelines issued today by the Air Force on the free exercise of religion protects efforts by chaplains to pray according to their faith.

This is an important move by the Air Force to protect the free speech rights of chaplains to pray according to their faith, said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, which supported efforts to protect prayer by military chaplains.  We are delighted that the Air Force has clarified this issue and has moved to protect the rights of chaplains in a manner that is both appropriate and constitutional.  Military chaplains play a vital role in providing comfort and spiritual support for our men and women in the military.  The revised guidelines issued today by the Air Force not only protect the rights of chaplains, these guidelines should serve as a model for the other branches of the military.  From the very beginning, we have maintained that chaplains have a constitutional right to adhere to the religious expressions of their faith and exercise them freely.  Were pleased the Air Force has taken action to guarantee these protections.

The ACLJ has been active in working to protect the constitutional rights of military chaplains.  Last year, proposed Air Force restrictions on military prayer for chaplains restrictive guidelines that could be implemented throughout the Department of Defense triggered a Congressional push urging President Bush to get involved to protect the constitutional rights of chaplains.  The ACLJ collected more than 200,000 names on a petition urging corrective action.  At the same time, the ACLJ provided the Air Force with a legal analysis of proposed guidelines and urged the Air Force to act to ensure that chaplains be able to pray according to their faith.

In the revised guidelines released today, the Air Force states:  We will respect the rights of chaplains to adhere to the tenets of their religious faiths and they will not be required to participate in religious activities, including public prayer, inconsistent with their faiths.

This is an important victory for military chaplains and for the First Amendment, said Sekulow.  Hundreds of thousands of Americans understood the importance of this issue and were gratified that it has been resolved through the actions taken by the Air Force.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the ACLJ focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.