Statement from Chaplain (MajGen) Doug Carver on Scott Squires

From US Army Chaplain (MajGen) Doug Carver (retired), as quoted at the Baptist Press, reacting to the Army’s decision not to punish Chaplain (Maj) Jerry Scott Squires, despite an official investigator’s recommendation it do so:

“This is great news for both Chaplain Squires and all of the military chaplains who are serving our men and women the U.S. Armed Services,” said Gen. Douglas Carver, executive director of chaplaincy at the North American Mission Board (NAMB). “It is a significant victory for all who support and defend the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, especially regarding the freedom of religion…”

Carver thanked Squires’ commanding general “for having the moral courage to make the correct but difficult decision regarding the investigation into Chaplain Squires…”

“Few chaplains have endured the investigative scrutiny that Read more

Site Highlights “Chaplain” John McCain

The Chaplain Kit, a website that bills itself as an “online chaplain’s museum,” memorialized John McCain this weekend by noting he was once “chaplain” John McCain –while he was a prisoner of war:

While not officially a chaplain, John McCain was elected one by the group of POWs who shared a cellblock with him late in the Vietnam War. McCain wasn’t chosen as chaplain “…because the senior ranking officer thought [he] was imbued with any particular extra brand of religion, but because [he] knew all of the words of the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed.”

The article includes an excerpt from McCain’s book, Faith of My Fathers, on a Christmas service held during his captivity: Read more

Breaking: Army Rejects Punishment for Chaplain Squires

Update:  From First Liberty’s Mike Berry:

At the end of the day, if anyone has been the victim of discrimination here, it’s been Chaplain Squires and Staff Sergeant Griffin. I’m thankful that a two-star general stepped in and corrected things, but it should never have come to that in the first place.

Fox News’ Todd Starnes reports on the First Liberty press release that the Army has rejected the recommendation to punish Chaplain (Maj) Scott Squires for how he handled a Strong Bonds marriage retreat when a homosexual couple said they wanted to come.

From First Liberty Institute: Read more

Mikey Weinstein’s Motivation Against BGen Teichert Revealed

Mikey Weinstein’s good side, taken at the Broadmoor via Pam Zubeck.

For a few minutes, Michael “Mikey” Weinstein managed to stick to his scripted talking points that he was concerned about BGen John Teichert’s alleged ‘abuse of authority’ with regard to religion — not the religion itself.

But that fell apart pretty quickly.

First, Weinstein claimed it was a lack of “disclaimers,” then it was about the fact BGen Teichert’s beliefs were public. Then it was the fact BGen Teichert’s statements were “offensive.”

Weinstein’s moving goalposts were intentional obfuscation — and a bit of scrambling for Read more

Mother’s Prayers Answered with Air Force KC-135, A-10

US Air Force MSgt Maria Breceda is a member of the 161st Air Refueling Wing, which flies the venerable KC-135. Her son was recently deployed to Afghanistan as an airborne infantryman with the 25th Infantry Division. An Air Force article documents how her prayerful concern affected her son’s deployment:

“Even though we have a family legacy of serving in the military, I said a prayer every day to keep a watchful eye over my son Michael and the members of his unit.”

Over the next few weeks she learned just how her prayers had been answered: Read more

Faithful, Churches Aim to Serve, Influence US Military

Two recent articles, among others, demonstrate the strength of the relationship between the US military and the local church — especially churches that go out of their way to serve the military community.

The relationship between the military and Manna Church in Fayetteville — outside Fort Bragg — was documented at Religion News Service:

This dynamic megachurch is similar to many others across the country, except for this: 70 percent of church members are military families based at Fort Bragg, the nation’s largest military installation. And despite a rapid turnover of members, due to deployments, retirements and transfers to other bases, the evangelical church has not only held steady, but grown.

Manna Church actually spreads Read more

Mikey Weinstein Fails to Find Allies in Teichert Attack

Michael “Mikey” Weinstein’s recent attack on BGen John Teichert over the exercise of his Christian faith have blanketed the media over the past few days. It is has been universally bad for Weinstein — and an apparent unanticipated blessing for the ministry of PLUS.

Even average readers see the amount of mental gymnastics Weinstein has taken to make himself “offended,” as well as his misrepresentation of unattributed commentary as carrying the force of rank and command. (One site even noted PLUS is essentially anonymous, and that Mikey Weinstein basically “doxxed” BGen Teichert, then turned around and accused him of illegal conduct based on connections Weinstein made.) As a result, many people are seeing through to the hate-based motivation driving Weinstein’s complaint.

Multiple sites have covered the complaint, supporting BGen Teichert, and — though you should never read the comments — it has been fascinating to see how many self-avowed Mikey Weinstein acolytes are saying he went too far.

The only people who seem to be defending Weinstein are those already associated with the MRFF, including, oddly, chaplain-endorser David Plummer, who joined in on Todd Starnes Facebook page to seemingly support the attack on military religious freedom.

“Friendly” atheist Hemant Mehta also repeated Mikey Read more

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