:: Military Chaplains ::
On July 29, 1775, in the midst of the
Revolutionary War, chaplains were officially recognized as part of
the United States Military by the Continental Congress. This of
course, was a Congress that believed very much in the power and
importance of prayer and understood the role our chaplains could
play in the lives of people in uniform. After all, this was the same
Congress that began with a prayer at its initial meeting on
September 7, 1774, because they recognized the importance of God’s
blessings on their land. No one had to tell them the historical
importance of prayer in America. They had seen it and they had lived
it.
Throughout the 200 years that would follow, the branches of our
military would regularly reaffirm the vital role of our military
chaplains in periodic regulations. In an Air Force Policy Directive
issued on July 1, 1999, and in a Secretary of the Navy Instruction
issued on October 12, 2000, there was an emphasis on the “free
exercise of religion” by our chaplains. There was even recognition
of their role in advising commands in matters of morale, morals, and
spiritual well-being. This policy was in keeping with policies that
had governed military chaplains for 210 years. In those 210 years,
there were no significant problems regarding the way our chaplains
performed their duties. They acted appropriately in the
circumstances in which they found themselves and their personnel.
Today in the United States, there is a well-funded and
well-organized anti-prayer and anti-religion movement whose goal is
to remove all vestiges of prayer or religion from the military and
the government sector. This often has enormous sway with policy
makers who seek first the kingdom of political correctness.
In an effort to accommodate these interests, the Air Force issued
interim guidelines for chaplains on August 30, 2005, which
significantly broadened the scope of religious regulation on
military chaplains specifically. However, even the Air Force
realized they had overstepped, and they revised these guidelines on
February 9, 2006. Unfortunately, even the last revision stated,
among other things, “Leaders at every level bear a special
responsibility to ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably
be construed to be officially endorsing nor disapproving any faith
belief or absence of belief.” In other words, you cannot mention God
because it could be “construed” to endorse a faith that embraces the
concept that God is real.
On February 21, 2006, the Navy took a step further in issuing a new
policy guidance that essentially allowed a commander to restrict the
nature of the prayer in any command function.
Numerous reports began surfacing in which chaplains of all faiths
felt they had been marginalized and that their prayers were
essentially being edited by their commanders. Some suggested they
had stopped being chaplains and were now more like guidance
counselors. Others wondered why there was such a rush to change a
policy that had worked for 210 years, and why the change had taken
place so quickly without adequate hearings and input from all sides.
In the short sweep of a Secretary’s pen, prayer had been relegated
to a mere ceremonial salutation.
Fortunately, the Army was far wiser. They concluded after reviewing
the practices of their chaplains that “nothing was broken” so they
did not need to fix a policy that had worked for 210 years.
When the House Armed Services Committee considered the FY2007
Defense Authorization Act, they fought to reverse the new
restrictive regulations issued by the Secretary of the Air Force and
the Secretary of the Navy and preserve the policies that had
governed the chaplains for 210 years. They inserted language in the
bill that simply stated the chaplains could pray according to the
dictates of their own conscience. This language was adopted by the
House of Representatives on May 11, 2006.
In September 2006, the Senate refused to accept the rollback of these
restrictive regulations. They argued that doing so would marginalize
chaplains and completely ignored the fact that it was these very
regulations that had marginalized them in the first place.
Next, the Senate argued that before they would roll back the
restrictive provisions, they should hold hearings on the matter.
However, they never asked why hearings were not held in the first
place before a 210-year-old practice was changed.
Fortunately, Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus joined with
other House Members and united behind the leadership of House Armed
Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter. They refused to pass the
bill until these provisions were addressed. On September 29, 2006,
the Senate agreed to language that directed the Secretary of the Air
Force and the Secretary of the Navy to rescind their current
policies and reinstate the chaplain provisions that had existed for
over 200 years.
The irony of this fight was that one of the greatest chaplains of
all time was Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall. If he had been subject
to these regulations, he would never have been able to offer almost
95% of the prayers he made in the United States Senate. Yet as
Senator Harley Kilgore of West Virginia once said, “Peter Marshall
expresses more feeling and says more in his short prayers than all
the Senators put together the rest of the day.” Perhaps it would do
us well to listen to the prayer he offered in the Senate on March
18, 1948:
“Our Father in Heaven, save us from the conceit which refuses to
believe that God knows more about government than we do, and deliver
us from the stubbornness that will not seek God’s help. Today we
claim Thy promise: ‘If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, who
giveth to all liberally and it shall be given to him.’ Thou knowest,
Lord, how much we need it. Make us willing to ask for it and eager
to have it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
:: Announcing: Senior Matters ::
Congressman J. Randy
Forbes (VA-04) is hosting two free Seniors Consumer Information
workshops to be held on October 13th, 2006, with special guest,
Ben Garrett, Outreach and Education Coordinator at the Virginia
Department on Aging.
Who's Invited?
The event is open to all senior citizens and other interested
residents of Virginia’s Fourth District.
What is it about?
“Senior Matters: Organize and Protect Your Financial Resources” An
interactive workshop to discuss consumer information for seniors
including proper documentation, identity theft and scams targeting
seniors
Where? What time?
Friday, October 13, 2006
Colonial Heights
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Hilton Garden Inn,
Southpark
800 Southpark Boulevard
Chesapeake
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Lifestyle Center at
Chesapeake General Hospital
800 Battlefield Boulevard |
ON
THE HILL ....
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Current
Floor Proceedings
Bills
Coming Up This Week
Monthly
Whip Calendar |
OFFICE
LOCATIONS ....
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307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202.225.6365
505 Independence Pkwy, Suite 104
Chesapeake, VA 23320
757.382.0080
2903 Boulevard, Suite B
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
804.526.4969
425 H. South Main Street
Emporia, VA 23847
434.634.5575
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