{"id":31284,"date":"2015-04-01T00:45:07","date_gmt":"2015-04-01T03:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/?p=31284"},"modified":"2016-11-25T00:29:17","modified_gmt":"2016-11-25T03:29:17","slug":"congress-questions-navys-treatment-of-chaplain-modder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/2015\/04\/01\/congress-questions-navys-treatment-of-chaplain-modder\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress Questions Navy’s Treatment of Chaplain Modder"},"content":{"rendered":"

Members of Congress have written a letter (PDF)<\/a> to the Secretary of the Navy asking for details on why US Navy Chaplain (LtCmdr) Wes Modder is facing adverse action for his religious beliefs [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n

Our understanding is that Chaplain Modder’s commanding officer has requested that Chaplain Modder be Detached for Cause after a Sailor at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command complained about Chaplain Modder’s views on pre-marital sex and homosexuality…<\/p>\n

These beliefs on sexual intimacy do not constitute a legally viable reason to bring action against Chaplain Modder or any member of the military<\/strong>… It is dangerous to fall prey to the fundamentally false proposition that individuals who support natural marriage can only be motivated by animus for others.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Realize that these are the members of Congress who wrote the law<\/em> they are now explaining to the Navy. They’re telling the Navy that the public representation of Chaplain Modder’s situation is not consistent with the law they wrote<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the public affairs firestorm this incident has raised (more than 100,000 people<\/a> have signed a petition in defense of Chaplain Modder), the members of Congress then asked the Navy Secretary to affirm its compliance with the law in protecting religious liberty [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n

Finally, as a reassurance to chaplains, sailors, and the public, we would like confirmation as to what steps the Navy is taking to reinforce the policies and protections in place<\/strong> for servicemembers and chaplains to freely exercise their religiously-informed beliefs<\/strong>, including the freedom of chaplains to adhere to the tenets of their faith as they perform and provide in all aspects of their ministry, including in counseling sessions<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The congressional dressing-down — again, from the government body that writes military policy and the law<\/em> — is an awkward situation for the Navy leadership to find itself in, as its lower level commanders have adamantly stood by<\/a> their original decision<\/a> to fire Chaplain Modder and position him for dismissal from the Navy.<\/p>\n

Congressman Doug Collins — himself a US Air Force Reserve Chaplain — sent a separate letter (PDF)<\/a> to the Navy inquiring into an issue several have raised — the propriety of the Lt(JG) who sought out complainants in an apparent personal ‘private investigation.’<\/p>\n

Quoted at WORLD Magazine<\/a>, Chaplain Modder’s attorney, Liberty Institute lawyer Mike Berry, said he hoped the Navy would see the error of its ways:<\/p>\n

Berry hopes \u201ccooler heads will prevail\u201d and the Navy will realize the dangerous precedent set by taking action that affects not just Modder but all chaplains.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink about a chaplain who reads or hears about this incident with chaplain Modder and maybe he\u2019s scheduled to give a sermon the following Sunday in the chapel,\u201d Berry said. \u201cHe\u2019s probably going to think twice about his message, which is a terrible predicament for a chaplain, for a minister to have to be in, where he\u2019s now worried about the government coming to get him because of what he said in a sermon, or what he said in a private counseling session with somebody? Nobody should be able to do that. Not in this country.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As an aside, as previously accurately commented<\/a>, the Navy has reportedly disputed the allegation it gave Chaplain Modder a No Contact Order.\u00a0 Attorney Mike Berry is a former Marine JAG, so he likely knows what he’s talking about when he describes the directive.\u00a0 It’s possible the Navy is waging a battle of semantics.<\/p>\n

Also at the Christian Post<\/a>, FRC Blog<\/a>, Breitbart<\/a>, the local Post and Courier<\/a>, Newsmax<\/a>, OneNewsNow<\/a>, FoxNews<\/a>, and the Stars and Stripes<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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