MRFF Applauds Navy's Ruling in Klingerschmitt Case
MRFF APPLAUDS NAVY’S RULING IN KLINGENSCHMITT CASE
Navy Review Finds Chaplain’s Complaint “Without Merit”
ALBUQUERQUE – The Washington Times reported this morning that the Navy had reached a decision in the case of Chaplain Lt. Gordon J. Klingenschmitt, an Air Force Academy Graduate, who had filed a complaint charging that “his commanding officer censored and harassed him by discouraging the use of certain Bible quotations.” A Navy review concluded the Chaplain’s complaint was “without merit.”
Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) founder and president, Mikey Weinstein, released the following statement praising the Navy’s decision:
“The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is extremely pleased with the Navy’s ruling against Chaplain Klingenschmitt’s complaint. We have stood firm in our belief that the Chaplain violated the Constitutional rights of Naval personnel by preaching, at an ecumenical memorial service in 2004, the Gospels – including the Gospel of John, which says that only those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life.
This is the first time that the leadership of a branch of our nation’s armed forces has spoken out against discriminatory prayer at mandatory military formations. The Navy’s decision flies in the face of the Air Force’s continuous violations of the Constitution including their dismissal of charges of coercive proselytizing against former U.S. Air Force Academy Commandant of Cadets, Brigadier General Johnny Weida ,and their revised guidelines on religion that allow for chaplains to publicly pray in Jesus’ name at mandatory military formations and for the evangelizing of subordinate personnel by the senior members of their chains of command.
The Navy’s judgment reveals the travesty of the official findings in the June 2005 Report of Air Force Headquarters Review Group Concerning the Climate at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Page 11 of the report discusses the case of Chaplain Major Warren ‘Chappy’ Watties, who during a ‘voluntary ecumenical’ Protestant worship service, ordered the Cadets in attendance to proselytize those who did not attend. The Chaplain also ordered the Cadets to deliver the message to those who refused to be evangelized that their penalty would be to burn eternally in the fires of Hell. The U.S. Air Force concluded that Chaplain Watties, who was at the time the reigning U.S. Air Force Chaplain of the Year, had done nothing wrong.
This ruling, in which the Navy has taken the position that ‘commanders can influence what chaplains say at public events, such as the memorial event, as opposed to a divine worship service’ should set an example for the other segments of our nation’s military which continue to blatantly violate the United States Constitution.
The Navy’s declaration is a small victory for those of us who continue to work so diligently to defend our Constitution.”
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The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled by virtue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Navy Review Finds Chaplain’s Complaint “Without Merit”
ALBUQUERQUE – The Washington Times reported this morning that the Navy had reached a decision in the case of Chaplain Lt. Gordon J. Klingenschmitt, an Air Force Academy Graduate, who had filed a complaint charging that “his commanding officer censored and harassed him by discouraging the use of certain Bible quotations.” A Navy review concluded the Chaplain’s complaint was “without merit.”
Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) founder and president, Mikey Weinstein, released the following statement praising the Navy’s decision:
“The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is extremely pleased with the Navy’s ruling against Chaplain Klingenschmitt’s complaint. We have stood firm in our belief that the Chaplain violated the Constitutional rights of Naval personnel by preaching, at an ecumenical memorial service in 2004, the Gospels – including the Gospel of John, which says that only those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life.
This is the first time that the leadership of a branch of our nation’s armed forces has spoken out against discriminatory prayer at mandatory military formations. The Navy’s decision flies in the face of the Air Force’s continuous violations of the Constitution including their dismissal of charges of coercive proselytizing against former U.S. Air Force Academy Commandant of Cadets, Brigadier General Johnny Weida ,and their revised guidelines on religion that allow for chaplains to publicly pray in Jesus’ name at mandatory military formations and for the evangelizing of subordinate personnel by the senior members of their chains of command.
The Navy’s judgment reveals the travesty of the official findings in the June 2005 Report of Air Force Headquarters Review Group Concerning the Climate at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Page 11 of the report discusses the case of Chaplain Major Warren ‘Chappy’ Watties, who during a ‘voluntary ecumenical’ Protestant worship service, ordered the Cadets in attendance to proselytize those who did not attend. The Chaplain also ordered the Cadets to deliver the message to those who refused to be evangelized that their penalty would be to burn eternally in the fires of Hell. The U.S. Air Force concluded that Chaplain Watties, who was at the time the reigning U.S. Air Force Chaplain of the Year, had done nothing wrong.
This ruling, in which the Navy has taken the position that ‘commanders can influence what chaplains say at public events, such as the memorial event, as opposed to a divine worship service’ should set an example for the other segments of our nation’s military which continue to blatantly violate the United States Constitution.
The Navy’s declaration is a small victory for those of us who continue to work so diligently to defend our Constitution.”
###
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled by virtue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
posted by Military Religious Freedom Foundation at 12:52 PM
3 Comments:
that's really funny Gordon.
Even if one fact may be wrong, you are going to wash over the others as if they are wrong too?
Do you really think Jews should be called "f*&king Jew" and "Jesus Killer"?
And how about all the other non-Christians? Do you think we just love being called Satanists by our chain of command? During my time in service, I got extra duty because I wouldnt attend religious services on Sunday. When at DFGL led services for my faith, we had "Prayer Warriors" disturbing us, nasty letters in the Stars and Stripes. Do you really think Gordon that this is acceptable?
You cry like youre the victim here, when in fact, you are the victimizer. Quit whining. Christianity is the Majority and there is no reason for the Majority to cry.
I have seen "voluntary" services go wrong. It's still a captive audience.
When my fiance was killed, the chaplain performing the voluntary memorial service didnt even think to ask me or my fiance's family what our faith was.
He just assumed we were Christian. My fiance was Athiest and I was Neo-Pagan.
All of the friends and family who showed up were quite suprised when the Chaplain was talking about Jesus and Heaven.
We could have walked out, but we didnt because it would have been rude. We all went home shaking our heads and happy it was over with. Even our Christian friends were confused. My fiance wanted to go "to the worms" when he died-- not Heaven.
Dont think Gordon that we Non-Christians hate Christ. I personally have no problems with Jesus-- it's his frothing at the mouth followers I have a problem with.
Sky
Rome burns while you argue over religious correctness. As an outsider from a third world perspective, I cannot help feeling that when people start getting petty over each others beliefs, that's the end of community. It is a sure sign that America is slipping down the slope of intolerance towards anarchy.
Get the big picture- The USA is in the fight for its Christian heritage against the East. All signs are that it will be engulfed by just sheer demographics.
Does it matter? Well not if you are a liberal.
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