Army Chaplaincy » Army News

Conservatives insist ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal will harm chaplains

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:50:41 +0000

Conservative groups predict tight restrictions on chaplains’ religious speech if the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” law is overturned, with some evangelical Christian groups contemplating pulling their ministers out of the ranks.

“The approved gospel will be a politically correct gospel,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a Christian lobbying group that deals with marriage and family issues. “If chaplains are limited in the moral teachings they can present [because of a repeal], you will see orthodox Christian chaplains leaving the military.”

Religious leaders in and outside the military doubted those predictions.

Air Force Chief of Chaplains Maj. Gen. Cecil Richardson said he thinks a repeal will be a “difficult transition,” but “I don’t know a single chaplain who wants to get out because of that issue.”

READ MORE from Stars and Stripes

Retired chaplains warn against reversing ‘Don’t Ask’

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:47:00 +0000

The careers of many if not most military chaplains will end if the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy against open homosexual service is overturned, more than 40 retired military chaplains contend in an April 28 letter to President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The letter warned that reversing the policy will negatively impact religious freedom and could even affect military readiness and troop levels because the military would be marginalizing “deeply held” religious beliefs.

Military chaplains, the retired chaplains said, “are integral to maintaining high morale.”

READ MORE from Baptist Press

Lawmaker Calls for Hearings into Pentagon’s ‘Politically Correct’ Decisions to ‘Disinvite’ Conservative Christian Leaders

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:39:11 +0000

A conservative Republican congressman from Georgia is calling for congressional hearings to investigate actions by the U.S. military in recent weeks to cancel or rescind invitations that had been made to two prominent conservative Christian leaders — Franklin Graham and Tony Perkins — to speak at military prayer events.

“I think that we need to have some hearings on this because this seems to be something that the military is spending some energy on and we need to raise the visibility on it,” Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) told CNSNews.com.

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Graham: Army disinvites him to Pentagon Prayer Day

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:37:02 +0000

WASHINGTON — Christian evangelist Franklin Graham says the Army has withdrawn an invitation for him to appear at a special Pentagon prayer service.

READ MORE from the Associated Press

Army considers rescinding invitation to evangelist

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:03:52 +0000

DENVER — The Army is considering whether to rescind an invitation to evangelist Franklin Graham to appear at the Pentagon amid complaints about his description of Islam as evil, a military spokesman said Wednesday.

Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, was to appear at the Pentagon on May 6 — the National Day of Prayer.

He said he will be a guest of the Pentagon and would speak only if he’s still invited.

Army Col. Tom Collins said withdrawing the invitation “is on the table,” but no decision has been made. He said Army brass will have the ultimate decision on whether to pull the invite.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation raised the objection to the appearance, citing Graham’s past remarks about Islam.

READ MORE from the Associated Press

Servicemembers Celebrate Passover, Food, Friends

admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:05:55 +0000

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Many Soldiers can agree that those who wear “U.S. Army” over their hearts share a camaraderie never before experienced in their lifetime. Whether it is battling through firefights with a buddy alongside or helping another Soldier in need of companionship, the bonds Soldiers make over deployments last forever.

For those who attended a Jewish Passover celebration, March 29, at the Freedom Rest on COB Speicher, their bonds ran deeper than the uniforms worn.

Soldiers from different forward operating bases across United States Division-North, to include Contingency Operating Site Marez, FOB Warhorse, and FOB Q-West as well as Contingency Operating Base Speicher, attended the Passover dinner to celebrate their faith and this important Jewish holiday.

READ MORE from the U.S. Army

Soldier Changes His Name For Inspiration

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:18:53 +0000

FORT HOOD, Texas – Whenever he was going through a difficult time either in his personal life or in his professional life, one 4th Sustainment Brigade Soldier relied on his faith to carry him through.

The thing that sets this noncommissioned officer apart from other leaders in the Army is the name that is stitched across his uniform. His first name is Soldier. His last name is 4theLord. Staff Sgt. Soldier 4theLord doesn’t have a middle name.

4theLord is a retention NCO for the Wrangler Brigade, and if you hang around him long enough you will notice that a lot of people do a double take when they read the name on his chest.

“I get approached about it every day,” he said. “People ask if it’s my real name. The answer is yes. The Army doesn’t let a person wear a fake name.”

READ MORE from the U.S. Army

Military to Release New Guidelines on Discharging Homosexuals Under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

admin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:42:00 +0000

Discharging a gay person for violating the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy will draw unprecedented scrutiny under new orders from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is already pushing to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. military.

Guidelines to be announced Thursday call for testimony from third parties to be given under oath. The discharge of enlisted personnel must be approved by officers who hold a rank equivalent to a one-star general or above, according to military and defense officials familiar with the plan. They spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.

READ MORE from CNSNews.com

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ review seeks broadest input

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:33:22 +0000

The Defense Department’s review on the potential impact of repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military will solicit input from troops of every service and rank — as well as their families — through surveys, focus groups and social media tools, the team heading up the review told Congress today.

Jeh C. Johnson, the Pentagon’s general counsel; Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe; and Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, told the House Armed Services Committee today they seek to get the widest range of viewpoints from both within and outside the Defense Department as they conduct the review concerning potential repeal of the law commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates ordered the 10-month review in February to solicit views about a repeal, as well as the potential impact if Congress directs it. He issued guidelines and parameters for the review yesterday, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that any change in the law is implemented in a way that minimizes disruptions in military operations.

Toward that end, the working group will focus its work on assessing any impact a repeal would have on readiness, recruiting, retention, family readiness and unit cohesion, Johnson said.

READ MORE from the U.S. Army

Positive changes are afoot in war

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:38:24 +0000

Since returning home from Afghanistan as part of a small contracting team from the Alabama Army National Guard some three months ago, I have been asked upon occasion: “Whatever became of the shoes?”

For those unfamiliar with the story, “the shoes” refer to those collected in an unprecedented outpouring of charity by the Tennessee Valley this past summer and fall, coordinated and led by The Huntsville Times and Redstone Arsenal, all in response to an article I wrote regarding my chance encounter with three young camel herders and their plea for shoes.

On that particular hot day in Afghanistan, my fellow major and I were lucky enough to be able to purchase three pairs that fit the Afghan boys perfectly. The joy they demonstrated at receiving such an item gave us much to think about, then and since, on how each individual can make a positive difference in another’s life.