February 02, 2007
Chaplain's Battle to Pray
| Host: | Vic Eliason |
| Guest: | Gordon Klingenschmitt |
| Listen: | RealAudio | Windows Media | MP3 | Order Tape or CD |
Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt lost his chaplain's position for praying in Jesus' name. Wednesday was supposed to be his last day in the Navy but a D.C. appeals court granted a one week stay of his termination.
If the court rules against him on Monday, he says he'll probably be out of the Navy on Wednesday. He'll lose his fifteen and a half year career, along with a million dollar pension.
Ironically, Congress rescinded the exact same policy Klingenschmitt was punished for. It involved a misdemeanor court martial September, 2006 where he was convicted of the midemeanor crime of wearing his Navy uniform to pray in Jesus' name outside of a Sunday chapel. He was found guilty of disobeying orders; orders that were only lawful because of what Klingenschmitt describes as bad Navy policy, that a chaplain must pray non-sectarian prayers outside of Sunday chapel.
That policy has now been rescinded, but even though chaplains are now allowed to pray in Jesus' name, the Navy will not "grandfather" the decision back to Klingenschmitt's case, therefore he still stands to lose his Navy career.
Vic urged callers to contact Wisconsin Congressman James Sensenbrenner's office to see if this could be brought to the floor for discussion. Chaplain Klingenschmitt urged listeners also to contact the Secretary of Defense and President Bush.
More Information
Action Points
Contact officals about the U.S. Navy's pending removal from the service of Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt for praying in Jesus' name outside the chapel, and at a time other than Sunday morning services, in violation of a discredited Navy policy that was rescinded by order of Congress. Despite a pledge by former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that the policy would no longer be enforced, the Navy is choosing to do so in this instance.
Wisconsin Congressman James Sensenbrenner's District Office:
262-784-1111
Secretary of Defense
703-692-7100
To find out who your congressman is call:
Capitol Hill Switchboard
202-224-3121
President George W. Bush
202-456-1111
