Obama administration Pentagon appointees meeting with anti-Christian extremist Mikey Weinstein to develop court-martial procedures to punish Christians in the military who express or share their faith.
Weinstein is the head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, and says Christians–including chaplains–sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in the military are guilty of “treason,” and of committing an act of “spiritual rape” as serious a crime as “sexual assault.” He also asserted that Christians sharing their faith in the military are “enemies of the Constitution.”
Pentagon May Court Martial Soldiers Who Share Christian Faith
President Obama’s civilian appointees who lead the Pentagon confirm that the military will make it a crime–possibly resulting in imprisonment–for those in uniform to share their faith. This would include chaplains—military officers who are ordained clergymen of their faith (mostly Christian pastors or priests, or Jewish rabbis — whose duty since the founding of the U.S. military under George Washington is to teach their faith and minister to the spiritual needs of troops who come to them for counsel, instruction, or comfort.)
This regulation would severely limit expressions of faith in the military, even on a one-to-one basis between close friends. It could also effectively abolish the position of chaplain in the military, as it would not allow chaplains (or any service members, for that matter), to say anything about their faith that others say led them to think they were being encouraged to make faith part of their life. It’s difficult to imagine how a member of the clergy could give spiritual counseling without saying anything that might be perceived in that fashion.
It’s a matter of what do they mean by “proselytizing.” …I think they’ve got their definitions a little confused. If you’re talking about coercion that’s one thing, but if you’re talking about the free exercise of our faith as individual soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, especially for the chaplains, they I think the worst thing we can do is stop the ability for a soldier to be able to exercise his faith.” – retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, who is now executive vice president of the Family Research Council (FRC)
House Majority Whip: Pentagon Must ‘Clarify’ Position on Prosecuting Christians
Breitbart News reports that the Pentagon says it could prosecute military members who promote their religion: “Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense…Court martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis…”
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA):
‘The Department of Defense needed to clarify its policy’, and called it a “wrong” targeting “the fundamental principles of democracy.”
“Our forefathers fought for a vision of a nation where the right to practice the faith of ones choosing was undeniable. Past attacks and threats to our country have targeted the fundamental principles of democracy, such as religious freedom. Recent reports of our own military relinquishing and punishing this right, especially to the very individuals giving the ultimate sacrifice serving our country, is wrong. I strongly encourage the Department of Defense to clarify their statement and policy on religious practice in the military.”
Video: Fox “The Five’s” take on this: Pentagon Going After Christian Faith?
“This regulation would severely limit expressions of faith in the military, even on a one-to-one basis between close friends. It could also effectively abolish the position of chaplain in the military, as it would not allow chaplains (or any service members, for that matter), to say anything about their faith that others say led them to think they were being encouraged to make faith part of their life. It’s difficult to imagine how a member of the clergy could give spiritual counseling without saying anything that might be perceived in that fashion.”