Current Number of Supporters: 2261
Total Faxes Sent: 9557
Subject: Let Military Chaplains Pray In Jesus Name
Dear [Your Congressman/Senator Inserted Here]
This petition requests that you join Congressman Walter Jones and CO-SPONSOR and pass Section 529 of NDAA 2014 H.R. 1960 (formerly H.R. 343.IH) to let MILITARY CHAPLAINS PRAY according to the dictates of their CONSCIENCE. The persecution of military chaplains who pray "in Jesus' name," is widespread and systematic. 65 Chaplains are suing the Navy, after being denied promotion because of their religious beliefs. Political correctness is censoring chaplains, allowing the government to dictate "which God" the chaplain may pray to, or what "illegal words" may not be uttered during prayer, when a chaplain gives an invocation.
This clearly violates the Chaplains' First Amendment rights. Former Navy Chaplain Klingenschmitt was literally court-martialed in 2006, (and later vindicated by Congress), when the military judge declared "worshipping in public" was not protected by federal law. He had written permission to wear his uniform during any act of "religious observance" but the judge ruled his prayer was not religious. Congress later rescinded SECNAVINST 1730.7C, the bad policy under which the Chaplain was wrongly punished, but that victory was not grandfathered, so the Chaplain lost his 16 year career and pension.
Other chaplains are punished, downgraded, reassigned, denied promotion. This year domestic enemies of the Constitution demand an Army chaplain be punished because he prayed to "the Heavenly Father" and "Lord," even without mentioning Jesus. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is not enforced, leaving Chaplains vulnerable. HR 343 would not establish any religion, rather it would promote freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression for any chaplain of any faith, to simply pray as his own religion and conscience dictates. Please join Congressman Walter Jones, and CO-SPONSOR H.R.343.IH.
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