Military Chaplain Prayer Issue Holds Up 2007 Spending Bill on Capitol Hill.
September 14, 2006
By Rick Maze
Army Times Staff writer
A fight over whether military chaplains can pray in the name of Jesus in nondenominational settings is one of the issues holding up negotiations on the 2007 defense authorization bill, according to sources involved in working out differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.
At issue is a House-passed provision, opposed by the Defense Department, that prevents the military from having any policy limiting what a chaplain may say in a public prayer. The provision says that other than for military necessity, nothing should be done to limit chaplains from praying as their conscience tells them.
Championed by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the House Armed Services Committee chairman, the provision was put into the bill in May at the urging of evangelical Christians, who argued that preventing chaplains from mentioning Jesus was limiting their religious practices.
The Pentagon opposes the provision, saying it would “marginalize” chaplains by generating “discomfort at formations,” according to a statement provided to lawmakers.
Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., an armed services committee member and one of the negotiators, has been trying to get the language toned down or repealed but he failed in the committee, was prevented from offering an amendment on the House floor and now cannot get negotiators to vote on a compromise.
"This provision does not only undermine religious freedom, but it also undermines military effectiveness," Israel said in a statement issued Wednesday. "Throughout the next few days, I will join the Department of Defense and multiple religious groups in fighting to remove this dangerous and unnecessary language."
It was after Israel’s statement was issued that sources said the bill became deadlocked over the chaplain’s issue.
According to sources involved in the negotiations to write a final defense bill, Hunter insists that the chaplain language remain untouched and other supporters have warned they will not sign off on a final bill unless the provision remains. “This is one of the last holdups on the bill,” said one source involved in the negotiations, who asked not to be identified because discussions are supposed to be kept secret until the bill is completed.
Inability to reach an agreement on chaplains has pushed the debate over until next week, sources said. “This is not the only unresolved issue but it is one of the biggest issues,” said a congressional aide, who also asked to remain unnamed.
A spokesman for Hunter was not available for comment. A spokeswoman for Israel confirmed he was pushing for a compromise and provided letters from the Defense Department and the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, which represents about 70 percent of military chaplains, that opposed the House provision.
To me, this sounds like a good thing. I wonder why the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces opposes it. I checked their website hoping to find some statement about it but didn't find anything. It would be interesting to hear some opinions on either side from Chaplains about it. But it is just another example of screwed up gubbermint... Want something? Just attach it to some other bill and hold up the whole works. But I guess that is just politics as usual.
1 comment:
I had to read this several times to understand what the provision said, who was against it, and what the debate was about - mostly because I could not understand what the problem was. Your right, Laurie, it sounds like a good thing. I would like to know more about the Defense Department's opposition.
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