EvC Forum: Laws in the US that restrict the rights of Christians

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Topic: Laws in the US that restrict the rights of Christians

Phat

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Message 53 of 84 (428031)
10-14-2007 7:36 AM

Reply to: Message 14 by Taz
09-15-2007 8:29 PM

What about the Chaplains?

This is taken from the A.C.L.J. website. (Yes, Jar...I know that Pat Robertson sponsors Jay Seculow, but the man has more intelligence than the average fundie!

)

Seculow writes:

Free Speech for Chaplains

This morning I was on the phone with Congressman Trent Franks from Arizona. We talked about the concern that has been surrounding the inability of military chaplains to pray according to the dictates of their conscience. Christian military chaplains have been denied the right to pray in Jesus’ name for fear of retribution and even discipline by military officials. The President has been sent a request from a number of members of Congress for an Executive Order to protect our military chaplains. We are aggressively working on this issue.

Under the guise of free speech, the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was given access to Columbia University and national media in the United States. Military sources have already indicated that Iran has supplied weapons that have been used against our soldiers. While President Ahmadinejad is given First Amendment protection, chaplains are not.

So whats wrong with Seculows argument?

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Phat

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Posts: 18351

From: Denver,Colorado USA

Joined: 12-30-2003

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Message 59 of 84 (428056)
10-14-2007 12:31 PM

Reply to: Message 56 by jar
10-14-2007 10:49 AM

Re: What about the Chaplains?

Jar writes:

Chaplains are not Christian or Jew of Muslim. They are Chaplains, and as such their personal beliefs must take second place to the beliefs of those being ministered to.

The issue, however, is that a majority of those being ministered to are Christians who are giving their lives for their country and would appreciate having Jesus being mentioned in prayers that they partake in.

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Phat

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Posts: 18351

From: Denver,Colorado USA

Joined: 12-30-2003

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Message 63 of 84 (428073)
10-14-2007 1:37 PM

Reply to: Message 58 by jar
10-14-2007 11:53 AM

Re: What about the Chaplains?

Jar writes:

The issue is not free speech but whether or not in their official duties they can pitch the woo.

Lets liken this analogy to wheelchair access. Our pluralistic society protects the rights of the minority rather than voting with the majority, right? Hence, wheelchair access gives the one guy out of 20 an equal access, right? Neither the 19 able bodied people nor the one handicapped person are thus denied access to a facility.

Now lets take a front line during battle. A Chaplain is dispatched to the front. There is a group of twenty men. 16 are Christians, (12 of those Evangelicals) 2 Jews, one Atheist/Agnostic, and one Rastafarian. The group is about to go out on a deadly mission and seeks prayers from the Chaplain.

If the Chaplain is given time to pray with each group, all will have equal access to his services, so to speak. If he is a good Chaplain, he will understand the diverse needs of each group of people and will accommodate them. His job is to listen, show compassion, and provide a loving, unbiased, and non-judgmental support for each and every member of the Armed Forces.

If there is only time for a quick group prayer, I can see where the issue becomes clear. What is happening is that the evangelical majority is demanding that only their type of prayer (involving Jesus name) be used since they may die that day and want what they consider to be last rites.

This is discriminatory against the minority faction present at that time and place, however.

I read an interesting Blog by a Military Chaplain concerning his private thoughts on the matter. He looks to be an evangelical yet has quite a mature outlook on knowing his role as a Chaplain.

I also found a good and balanced article on the subject of what a Chaplain is supposed to do here.

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Phat

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Posts: 18351

From: Denver,Colorado USA

Joined: 12-30-2003

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Message 74 of 84 (428296)
10-15-2007 9:40 PM

Reply to: Message 73 by Taz
10-14-2007 5:40 PM

Re: Back to the main topic.

The Chaplain issue is settled unless further facts come up later. I thought that Seculow, conservative though he is, would have a case. Apparently not yet.

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