U.S. Senate Unanimously Sends Warning to U.S. Air Force

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U.S. Senate Unanimously Sends Warning to U.S. Air Force

As it Passes Senator James Inhofe's Amendment Ensuring By Law The Ability of Military Service Academies to Include Prayer in Activities

Christian Coalition Action Alert, November 11, 2005

On Wednesday the United States Senate unanimously passed an Amendment -- authored by Senator James Inhofe, (R-OK), by a margin of 99-0 -- to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, S. 1042 which will ensure that prayer is allowed at any activity at the military academies. Congressman Walter Jones and Democrat Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo have introduced the same language in their bill, H.R. 3430.

The Jones/Bordallo/Inhofe language says: "To ensure by law the ability of the military service academies to include the offering of a voluntary, nondenominational prayer as an element of their activities." The latter phrase ("their activities") was obviously a warning to the United States Air Force which has publicized their "Interim Guidelines Concerning Free Exercise of Religion in the Air Force" which have alarmed many Christians.

A letter was sent by Congressman Walter B. Jones, (R-NC), to President George W. Bush last week with over 70 signatures of Members of the United States House of Representatives explaining that Christian military chaplains are being told to use general terms when they pray publicly, and to not mention the name of Jesus. These 69 Members of Congress conclude their letter saying: "We are requesting that you, as Commander-in-Chief, protect by Executive Order the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith." North Carolina Democrat Congressman Mike McIntyre said, "Chaplains ought to be able to pray based on who they are. Otherwise, it's hypocrisy."

Congressman Todd Tiahrt, (R-KS), sent a letter last week signed by 35 Members of the House of Representatives, to Acting Secretary of the Air Force Pete Geren expressing their "serious reservations" with the Air Force's "Interim Guidelines Concerning Free Exercise of Religion in the Air Force." These guidelines will further erode free exercise of religion in the U.S. Air Force and if set into policy will set a dangerous precedent for the other military services. There are already cases of "over enforcement" and political correctness since these Air Force guidelines have been publicized by those whose agendas are served by the new constraints on free exercise of religion.

The Air Force guidelines in their current draft form will put a chill on chaplains and officers and others in conducting their activities (prayer, evangelizing, etc.) according to the dictates of their consciences and faith. Christian Coalition will support all efforts by Members of Congress to force the military services into ceasing such discrimination. Call the White House at 202-456-1414 or email at president@whitehouse.gov and urge the president to issue an Executive Order protecting the constitutional right of military chaplains and other members of the military to pray according to their faith.

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