That's actually rather amusing. The House --
which passed a bill that would have prescribed that chaplains would have the
"prerogative" to pray "according to the dictates of their conscience" --
actually receded in conference. That is to say, the Senate
conferees prevailed, and therefore the law contains no such
prescription.
But then the conferees purport to
"driect" the Secretary of the Air Force to rescind the recent
policy. This is not a "direction" of Congress, let alone a duly enacted
law, and it has no operative legal effect.
Besides which, for the chaplains in their official
capacities to engage in public prayer "in Jesus's name" would violate the
Establishment Clause, and thus could not be "prescribed," even by
statute.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2006 3:14
PM
Subject: Victory for Military Chaplains
Who Pray "In Jesus Name"
Although Congress didn't pass new legislation, they did order
SECNAV and SECAF to rescind their recent (illegal) policies that required
"non-sectarian" prayers....so the controversial Air Force Guidelines (and Navy
policy) are now TOTALLY RESCINDED, and military chaplains are free to pray "in
Jesus name" in any public setting.
The official Senate/House conference report language can be read
here:
In Jesus name,
Chaplain Klingenschmitt
719-360-5132 cell
-------------------
Press Release: VICTORY FOR MILITARY CHAPLAINS WHO PRAY "IN JESUS
NAME"
To: National Desk
Contact: Wanda Sanchez, 209-534-9921, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
WASHINGTON DC, Sept. 30th /Christian
Newswire/ -- 1) Navy and Air Force Chaplains free to
pray "in Jesus name" again. 2) Congress orders Secretary of the Navy to
rescind "non-sectarian" prayer policy. 3) Congress orders Secretary of the Air
Force to rescind "guidelines concerning the exercise of
religion."
After months of fighting the Navys "non-sectarian" prayer policy,
Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt rejoiced on Friday as the U.S. Congress
took decisive action to overturn recent Navy and Air Force policies that
required "non-sectarian" prayers.
"Praise be to God, military chaplains can once again pray freely in Jesus
name!" Klingenschmitt declared victory. "Although this fight may have cost my
career and my pension, it was well worth it, because now at least other
chaplains will be given the same religious liberty I was denied."
While Senator John Warner blocked language in the Defense Authorization
Act to let chaplains pray according to their conscience, Congressman Duncan
Hunter held firm and secured non-negotiable language in the "Conference
Report" forcing the Navy and Air Force to rescind their "non-sectarian" prayer
policies.
The official conference report language can be read here:
Janet Folger, Founder and President of Faith To Action, declared victory
as well: "This conference report has teeth. It restores freedom of speech to
military chaplains, it restores the law since 1860 that traditionally let
chaplains pray in Jesus name in any setting, and it serves a swift rebuke to
Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter. Hes now been ordered by Congress to
rescind his illegal policy, and stop his censorship of chaplains prayers.
Winter is over, its Summer again, for chaplains who pray in Jesus name."
Klingenschmitt also believes this policy change will overturn his recent
court-martial conviction. "When my court-martial judge ruled that wearing my
uniform during public worship is only safe inside Sunday chapel, but that
worshipping in public in uniform can be criminally punished if you disobey
orders, he based his ruling on SECNAVINST 1730.7C, that same illegal policy
Congress just rescinded. That proves my commanders original order was
unlawful, and my court-martial verdict is now legally unenforceable."
Klingenschmitt has already written to Secretary of Defense Donald H.
Rumsfeld, read here:
To schedule an interview with Chaplain Klingenschmitt or Janet Folger,
contact Wanda Sanchez, 209-534-9921, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Stay in the know. Pulse on the new Yahoo.com. Check it
out.
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