As we’ve discussed before, the Obama Administration’s push to normalize homosexuality in the military is a distinct danger to religious liberty in the military.  And today, some of the best possible experts on the subject—retired military chaplains—are raising their voices to draw attention to this concern.

With the support of ADF, a group of 41 chaplains from all branches of the armed forces released a letter that provides a detailed explanation of how repealing the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law would censor chaplains and marginalize Christian soldiers.  Since their letter speaks for itself, I won’t elaborate further on it.  Especially when you could read three different explanations of the letter written by three of the chaplains themselves.

But I will introduce you to the signatories of these letters.  These are men who have given the bulk of their adult lives to serving the spiritual and moral needs of our armed forces.  And many of them continue to serve those needs by preparing and sending young chaplains into the military from a variety of Christian denominations.  Here’s a quick rundown of the signatories:

1)      Combined, the 41 chaplains have put in over one thousand years of service in the armed forces.  Almost every one served for at least two decades; a few almost made it to four decades.

2)      They are a high ranking group, with 2 brigadier generals, 21 colonels (or colonel-equivalents; a Navy captain is the same as a colonel in the other branches; learn more here), 14 lieutenant colonels (or LTC equivalents), and 4 lieutenant commanders (which are the equivalents of majors in the other services).

3)      The majority have served with our troops during armed conflict, ranging from the Vietnam War to the current-day wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Several have earned Bronze Stars for courageous conduct during battle; a couple even earned the Purple Heart (one did so three times!).

a.)  One of them was the first chaplain wounded during the Vietnam War.
b.)  Another earned two Presidential Unit Citations for extraordinary heroism under fire.
c.)  Yet another provided critical chaplaincy support during search-and-rescue operations at the Pentagon after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

4)      Almost all of the signatories have attained high levels of responsibility and service within the military.

a.)  A couple served as the leader of the armed forces’ top branch schools for chaplains (like the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School)—that is, they were responsible for training every chaplain entering the military.
b.)  Another served as Assistant Chief of Chaplains—only a step away from the highest chaplaincy position the military can offer.

When a single person with credentials like these speaks up, you listen.  And when over forty of them speak with one voice, we had all better stop and think about what they’re saying.

Before it’s too late.

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If you’re a military chaplain, active or retired, and are interested in becoming involved in this issue or sign the Chaplains Letter, please contact us with your information.

Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts or follow us on Facebook to join the conversation. http://www.facebook.com/SpeakUpChurch

Watch as distinguished military chaplains announce opposition to overturning the ”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

To understand what’s at stake, download this important information. Learn what’s at risk and how you can specifically pray for religious liberty in the military.

On April 15, United States District Court Judge Barbara Crabb, for the Western District of Wisconsin, struck down the National Day of Prayer statute, 36 U.S.C. § 119, claiming that it violated the Establishment Clause. 

Did this statute require people to join a church?  Did it force people to pay tithe to the Southern Baptist Convention?  No.  This statute did not even force people to sing all four stanzas of Amazing Grace. 

So how is it that this statute was found to violate our First Amendment’s prohibition against the establishment of a national religion?  Here is the exact wording of the statute:

The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.

All that this statute does is set aside a day each year for those that want to, to gather in prayer.  This is hardly the religious persecution our founding fathers faced when they fled England.  No one is forced to pray.  No one will be required to attend church or take communion in order to be a citizen. 

This statute is simply a reflection of our history and our heritage.  It is fast becoming a national secret, but America has a religious heritage.  We have a religious history.  As Supreme Court Justice William Douglas said, “We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being.”

From George Washington to today, Presidents have issued proclamations asking for national prayer.  In 1789, both the House and the Senate passed resolutions asking President Washington to issue an exhortation to the nation to pray and be thankful.   This tradition has been carried on by the many different presidents, has sustained us through national crises, and has continued till today.

But our nation’s history was of little concern here.  The opinion stated, ““[I]f history is controlling, it would require the Supreme Court to overrule much of its establishment clause jurisprudence of the last 50 years.”

Finally, we get a concession from a federal judge that the last fifty years of jurisprudence has been slightly off the mark from our nation’s history!  But in the end, the court struck down the statute because it was a promotion of religion in general.

Luckily for this nation, the court stayed its ruling until all appeals have been exhausted.  Most likely, the Supreme Court will have the last say on whether our history will be re-written.  And we at the Alliance Defense Fund will be employing every legal strategy to make sure our history, our heritage, is not so easily discarded.

Let President Obama know that the National Day of Prayer is important to you and to our country.  Encourage him to instruct the Justice Department to appeal this decision.

Sign the petition for President Obama

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In his State of the Union Address last week, President Obama took the Supreme Court to task for its recent ruling allowing corporations to speak out about candidates for election.  What he didn’t say was that the company the Court ruled for in the case was a small to mid-size non-profit.

Citizens United sued the Federal Election Commission (FEC) because it prohibited corporations from endorsing or opposing candidates for office within 90 days prior to an election.  The non-profit group filed the lawsuit because it was prohibited from offering Hillary: The Movie as a pay-per-view option on cable networks.  The Supreme said the FEC rules violate the free speech rights of corporations and are unconstitutional:  “By suppressing the speech of manifold corporations, both for-profit and nonprofit, the Government prevents their voices and viewpoints from reaching the public and advising voters on which persons or entities are hostile to their interests.”  This is exactly what the IRS has been doing to pastors since 1954 with the Johnson Amendment.  That amendment prohibits non-profit charitable organizations – including churches – from encouraging their members to vote for or against a candidate based on church teaching.  ADF has organized a Pulpit Initiative for the past two years in an effort to bring attention to this unconstitutional law, and challenge it in court.

So far, the IRS has not attempted to enforce the rule against any of the 85 pastors that have participated.  But if they do, Citizens United gives Churches a great weapon.  It will be very difficult for the IRS to argue that corporations have a free speech right to endorse or oppose candidates, but churches don’t.