Lawmakers Concerned Over Restrictions on Prayer

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Lawmakers Concerned Over Restrictions on Prayer

By Francis Helguero, The Christian Post, Oct. 29, 2005

There is congressional action taking place in Washington to protest proposed Air Force guidelines that would have the effect of banning Christian military chaplains from praying in Jesus' name during certain ceremonies.

The Air Force guidelines were introduced in early August. Since then, over 35 congressional representatives, led by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), have signed a request that President Bush issue an executive order to allow them to pray. Such orders carry the force of law, and are effective unless they are overturned by Congress or the courts.

"This is a First Amendment right. Chaplains should not have any second thoughts about how they should pray. Let their hearts speak with what God puts in their minds to pray," said Jones in a press conference in Washington last week, according to Stars and Stripes, a Department of Defense newspaper editorially independent from the government.

The proposed guidelines follow an investigation of allegations of religious intimidation by evangelical Christian soldiers against cadets of other religions or no religion at the Air Force Academy based in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The guidelines, which also included other restrictions on being able to "instruct and/or evangelize" were meant to "encourage all members of the Armed Forces to respect the religious views and practices of all members," Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke told Stars and Stripes.

The interim Air Force guidelines would allow chaplains to pray freely in situations where cadets attend voluntary assemblies of cadets, but specify that according to "long-standing military tradition," more general, "non-sectarian prayer" should be used in non-routine military ceremonies or special events, including promotion ceremonies, significant celebrations or others. The guidelines state that such prayers may be included to "add a sense of seriousness or solemnity, not to advance specific religious beliefs."

In addition to the representatives, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) has also pledged support for the president to issue an executive order, saying that it is "the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith."

Echoing that statement is Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, who is urging those concerned to add their signatures to a petition letter to President Bush, asking him to issue the executive order. Such orders have the force of law, unless they are overturned by Congress or the courts.

The letter's message contends that what is at stake is religious freedom.

"It has come to our attention that in all branches of the military, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christian chaplains to use the name of Jesus when praying," states the petition, which has already drawn over 28,000 people who have signed using the Internet, according to the ACLJ website. "We believe this suppression of religious freedom is a pervasive problem that must be dealt with and eliminated immediately."

Sekulow has also said that he has instructed his senior staff to prepare a "comprehensive memorandum of law" regarding the matter that will be circulated to the military and other members of congress.

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