September 14, 2006

Chaplain Guilty of Praying in Jesus' Name

Yesterday, Lieutenant Gordon James Klingenschmitt, a chaplain with the United States Navy, was convicted by a military jury and found guilty of a misdemeanor count of disobeying his commanding officer for wearing his uniform while delivering a prayer in the name of Jesus at an assembly in front of the White House.

Chaplain Klingenschmitt is now set to receive a letter of reprimand along with a $3,000 fine. Klingenschmitt believes the letter will be used by an administrative board to release him from the military. That action will cause him to lose his pension which could total 1.8 million dollars over the years.

Klingenschmitt has been told he will not be given the military courts for appeal. All he can do is write a rebuttal to the top Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy. Klingenschmitt believes this will not change anything since this JAG works for the Secretary of the Navy who is enforcing the policies that Klingenschmitt believes are unlawful.

Listeners were urged to continue calling the numbers listed below and leave word that chaplains should be allowed to pray in the name of Jesus.

More Information

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3434 W. Kilbourn Ave.
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Action Points

Here is an expanded list of phone numbers to contact the U.S. Senators who serve on the Conference Committee for the Defense Authorization Bill, and can choose to include section 590 of the House version, which will specifically authorize military chaplains to conduct services and pray in accordance with their conscience and the traditions of their civilian bishop or church denomination.

Senator Lindsey Graham
202-224-5972 (Washington office)

Lindsey Graham South Carolina contact numbers:
864-250-1417 (Greenville office)
803-933-0112 (Midlands regional office)
843-669-1505 (Florence office)
843-849-3887 (Mount Pleasant office)
803-366-2828 (Rock Hill office)

Senator John Warner
202-224-2023 (Washington office)

John Warner Virginia contact numbers:
757-441-3079
540-857-2676
804-739-0247
276-628-8158

Senator Carl Levin
202-224-6221
313-226-6020

Capitol Switchboard (to reach any U.S. Senator or Representative)
888-355-3588

To contact the White House to give President Bush your opinion about his ability to overrule decisions by the Secretary of the Navy and others to forbid praying in Jesus' name outside an official chapel worship service:

White House Switchboard
202-456-1111
202-456-1414