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Post by eric on Sept 12, 2006 11:06:39 GMT -5
Navy Chaplain Faces Court-Martial for Wearing Uniform at Protest Tuesday, September 12, 2006 NORFOLK, Virginia ā A Navy chaplain on Tuesday pleaded not guilty before a court-martial to a charge of disobeying orders by wearing his uniform at a White House protest started Tuesday.
Lt. Gordon J. Klingenschmitt contends he is being punished for praying in Jesus' name at the March 30 event, a political protest of Navy policy requiring nondenominational prayers outside of religious services.
Jury selection was to begin later Tuesday.
Last December, the Evangelical Episcopal priest went on an 18-day hunger strike in front of the White House over the right to invoke Jesus' name outside such services.
A superior officer had ordered Klingenschmitt not to wear his uniform during media appearances without first receiving permission but said he could be in uniform if conducting a "bona fide worship service." Klingenschmitt contends the news conference at the protest qualified as such; the Navy disagrees.
If convicted, Klingenschmitt faces a maximum punishment of forfeiture of two-thirds pay per month for one year and a reprimand.
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Post by victorialewis on Sept 15, 2006 9:42:26 GMT -5
wow....sad indeed. However, when you're in the military they own you. (in a manner of speaking) I'll lift this man up in prayer. It was on a crawl on FOX news yesterday.
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Post by mahatma on Sept 27, 2006 12:43:53 GMT -5
I imagine that were I a devout christian I would view this story as an inspirational one rather than something negative. This particular chaplain did not have his faith supressed by his superior officer, rather he was told basically to do this protest on his own time and without associating the military with his actions. That would seem to indicate that they have a laudable respect for his faith, in that they did not deny his right to take part in the protest. That seems like positive movement for those of faith in the ranks.
As for his being prosecuted, he did go and disobey his superior officers. Taking the inch that your superiors in a professional situation give you and trying to stretch it into a mile is not the action of a responsible adult, and would seem to demand reprimand under any circumstances military or not.
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