Tag Archives: Church and State

Commander Relies on Daily Prayer

President Obama recently noted the importance of prayer in his life, saying that he “prays all the time now.”  He made the statement in an interview for Nightline.

President Obama says he starts his day with a devotional that the director of his Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships initiative, Pentecostal pastor Joshua DuBois, sends to his BlackBerry each day.

The Commander in Chief also said “I’ve got a lot of stuff on my plate and I need guidance all the time.”  Like his military subordinates, Obama enjoys the liberties of free exercise guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as the freedom to let his exercise be known.

To date, there have been no significant complaints that Obama’s statements about religion or prayer have unduly influenced or discriminated against his subordinates.  (By contrast, some military officers were the subjects of complaints a few years ago for merely mentioning the biographical fact that they were Christians.)

FOB-Hopping Chaplain Ministers in Iraq

We can [celebrate] Mass on the hood of a jeep if we need to. To me, there is no awkward place to perform Mass.

A forward operating base (FOB) tends to be a smaller, more austere, and tactically significant military base supported by a larger main base located elsewhere.  FOBs dot the landscape in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  In many cases, helicopters or other means of transportation make “the rounds,” delivering supplies or rotating troops to the FOBs.

As noted in a military report, Air Force Chaplain (LtCol) Mark Rowan is a Catholic Priest who has to “FOB hop” from Read more

Iraqi Christian Evangelizes American Soldiers

In a rare public interaction of Iraqis, American soldiers, and the Christian faith, the Iraqi Bishop of Basra held a Catholic Mass for American troops stationed in his region.  The Mass was held on Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, on 8 August, by Bishop Imad Al Banna.  Approximately 50 people attended the service, which was delivered in historic Aramaic.

Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Morris, a Multinational Division South chaplain, said he commends Banna Read more

Praise for Jewish Chaplain, MREs at Army Base

As previously noted, last year a Jewish US Army basic trainee at Fort Benning was assaulted for reasons that he claimed were related to his faith.  His assailant was discharged, and the victim, Michael Handman, was allowed to leave the Army.

Several news sources are now crediting that scandal with recent activities occurring at Fort Benning.  These actions have included the addition of Kosher MREs at the dining hall and a permanent party Jewish Chaplain.  The base has previously had a Jewish Chaplain, though the relatively small number of Jewish Chaplains limits the number of bases to which they can be permanently assigned.  (The Associated Press text also says that the drill sergeants were “disciplined,” though there is no public evidence to that effect.)

Last year the incident rose to scandal status, involving the MRFF, ADL, and NAACP. Read more

Religious Objection and the Selective Service

The Washington Post writes that a Quaker has sued the Selective Service, with the assistance of the ACLU, because there is no way for him to record his status as a conscientious objector on the Selective Service registration forms.  Because of that omission and Tobin D. Jacobrown’s refusal, he will be in violation of the law requiring registration and may be unable to obtain certain federal benefits.  (As he is now 21, he has technically already violated the law, which requires him to register within 30 days of his 18th birthday.)

A Selective Service representative accurately pointed out that the system does not currently record objector status; instead, should the draft be instated, the application for such status would Read more

US Marine Baptized in Afghanistan

In a unique display of the lengths to which the US military will go to ensure the free exercise of its troops, a Marine Lance Corporal was baptized by a Navy Chaplain during combat operations in Afghanistan.  The Washington Post filmed and reported on the event.

Lance Corporal Zachary Ludwig had to wait for Navy Chaplain (Lt) Terry Roberts to arrive at his outpost.  He was baptized in an irrigation ditch fed by the Helmand River Read more

MRFF Files Response against Motion to Dismiss

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation quietly filed its response to the US Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss the Chalker v Gates lawsuit.  The lawsuit challenges the practice of allowing prayer at mandatory military formations and ceremonies. It demands that Specialist Dustin Chalker, an atheist, and “those similarly situated” not be forced to attend ceremonies that include a “sectarian prayer.” In comparing the two filings, it seems as if the two groups of lawyers were sometimes speaking past each other.

The MRFF’s response brings up some interesting points, but also ignores some valid issues. It also significantly changes the concept of the original suit. Read more

Navy Reverses Restriction on Religious Speech

As previously noted, in June the Liberty Council wrote a letter to the Navy demanding the removal of restrictions on religious speech on its “Navy for Moms” website.

According to a press release, the Liberty Council received a reply from the Navy in which it announced the institution of new guidelines that removed the restrictions on religious and political speech in the Navy for Moms forum.  Liberty Council’s Mat Staver said

We applaud the Navy for responding by removing restrictions on religious speech. To forbid ‘Christian Chat’ as a chat forum for Navy Moms, under the notion that the name is too divisive for a public forum, was absurd. About 90 percent of Americans profess belief in God, and the majority of them are Christian. Of all places, religious freedom must be respected in our armed services.

Also noted at the Religion Clause.

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