Dec 21 2005
Military Chaplains Can’t Pray in Jesus’ name
The hostility toward evangelical continues, this time (or, once again) in the military. I served for 24 years in the US Air Force and watched with alarm the growing intolerance toward any mention of Jesus the Christ. Reference to a hazy, non-judgmental God is fine. From the Washington Times:
To pray — or not to pray — in Jesus’ name is the question plaguing an increasing number of U.S. military chaplains, one of whom began a multiday hunger strike outside the White House yesterday.”I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus’ name,” said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who will be holding 6 p.m. prayer vigils daily in Lafayette Park.
The hunger strike is intended to persuade President Bush to issue an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their individual faith traditions. The American Center for Law and Justice has gathered 173,000 signatures on a petition seeking an executive order.
Seventy-three members of Congress have joined the request, saying in an Oct. 25 letter to the president, “In all branches of the military, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christian chaplains to use the name of Jesus when praying.” (More)
The Air Force Academy (my alma mater) has seen its share of controversy recently over prayer and proselytizing. The military is increasingly becoming a mirror of our society’s hatred of faith.
