[Vision2020] Taxes, Commands Support Chaplains - Not Religious Groups

[Tom Hansen]

>From the October 16, 2006 edition of the Army Times -

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Taxes, commands support chaplains - not religious groups

By Mike Freeman

Recently, I read and listened to the news stories about Navy Lt. Gordon L.
Klingenschmitt, a young Evangelical Episcopal priest. 

Chaplain Klingenschmitt was found guilty at court-martial of disobeying a
direct order from his commanding officer when he wore his uniform and prayed
in the name of Jesus at a March 30 protest in front of the White House. 

Several days after the story broke, I was driving through Missouri and came
across what sounded like a Christian talk show. The host was in high gear
rallying his listeners to:

.Send money to support the effort to bring a counter lawsuit in support of
Chaplain Klingenschmitt.

."Flood the halls of Congress with communications to protest this attack on
the chaplain's freedom of religion." 

As a former military chaplain who served 30 years in the Navy Reserve, I
feel an obligation to point out the misconceptions the "religious right"
holds about military chaplains. 

Perhaps the most important truth, and one right-wingers should celebrate, is
that military chaplaincy programs are programs of the federal government.
Chaplains are federal employees, just like every other person in military
service. Religious groups that endorse people as chaplains for this
specialized ministry do not support them. Millions of our tax dollars
support chaplains. From salaries and pensions, to chapels and support staff,
the cost of ensuring that people in the military have "free access to
religious activities" makes up a significant line item in the budget of the
armed forces. 

A second important truth about military chaplains is that their job
descriptions actually include two distinct roles. The primary one is their
responsibility to be pastors to people in the military. To put a person of
faith in the foxhole or in a military chapel makes an important statement
about the importance the military places on the "free exercise" clause of
the First Amendment. 

However, the chaplain has another role, and this is where Chaplain
Klingenschmitt gets in trouble. As a part of the commanding officer's staff,
the chaplain is expected to support the long-established tradition of
offering prayer or invocations at official functions of the command. At
these occasions, attendance by members of the command usually is not
voluntary, and those in attendance usually represent many expressions of
faith. 

Any chaplain who stubbornly insists on being visibly sectarian at official
functions where attendance is mandatory runs a high risk of damaging his
ability to be seen as a caring pastor to those of other faiths in times of
personal crisis. 

It's too bad that Chaplain Klingenschmitt and his "religious right"
supporters don't see that danger.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Vandalville, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 

--Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.