Tag Archives: Chaplain

Congressmen Defense Army Chaplain Punished For Offering Guidance

An Army chaplain who was disciplined for offering spiritual guidance now has the support of 24 representatives and senators.

“We are concerned that this disciplinary action violated First Amendment free speech protection that are undergirded by state reflected in the FY2013 and FY2014 NDAAs, along with the accompanying DoD regulations,” states the letter from the senators, sent to Army Secretary John McHugh.

“In fulfilling his duties as chaplain, Captain Lawhorn shared both his personal struggle with depression as well as biblical references and materials in accordance with the views of his endorsing agency and complementary to personal convictions.”

Army Chaplain Capt. Joseph Lawhorn was given a “letter of concern” from a superior at Fort Benning when he mentioned his Christian faith during a suicide prevention class.

The letter from Col. David Fivecoat said a handout he offered required people to see Christian information.

“You provided a two-sided handout that listed Army resources on one side and a biblical approach to handling depression on the other side,” the letter read.  “This made it impossible for those in attendance to receive the resource information without also receiving the biblical information.”

“Regrettably, military chaplains have been increasingly under fire simply for fulfilling their important and time-honored role in supporting our service members. This is just one more incident that sets a bad precedent, effectively gagging chaplains and keeping service members from getting the support they need,” Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty executive director Ron Crews said.

Navy Chaplain Dismissed For Standing For Jesus Elected To State House

A Navy chaplain discharged for praying in Jesus’ name while he was in uniform is heading to the Colorado State House.

Gordon Klingenschmitt was elected in Colorado’s 15th District with 70% of the vote in a district that is only 43% Republican.

“I owe a great debt to our volunteers and donors, and I am humbled by the voters’ support. As perhaps the only ordained minister elected to our state Republican caucus, I will work hard to represent all people of my district, regardless of political or religious belief. As a Chaplain, veteran, and PhD in Theology, I will defend everybody’s First Amendment rights,” Klingenschmitt said in his victory address.

Klingenschmitt was dismissed after 16 years as a Navy Chaplain for praying in Jesus name in public events and for attending partisan events in his naval uniform.  After being removed from the service, he started the “Pray In Jesus’ Name” project to reaffirm the rights of chaplains and Americans to pray in Jesus’ name in public.

Some liberal media outlets have denounced Klingenschmitt as being a “radical” for saying that American law needs to reflect God’s law and that we should base our lives and decisions on the Bible.