Victory for Chaplain Klingenschmitt . . . Navy Will Now Allow Him to Pray in Jesus' Name

Chaplain Klingenschmitt / Aimee Herd reporting : Jan 7, 2006
Persuade.tv

The Navy Chaplain staging a hunger strike outside the White House will end his fast this morning, after accepting religious accommodations from his reluctant superior officers.

"They're finally giving me back my uniform, and letting me pray publicly in Jesus name," said Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt.

The Chaplain will participate in a bona fide public worship service in front of the White House at 11 am Saturday January 7th, wearing his Navy uniform, and he'll pray publicly in Jesus name. in front of the media. He'll then break his water-only fast after 18 days (having lost 14 pounds), by sharing communion with everybody who attends.

"Today we celebrate a victory for religious liberty for all our Sailors, by worshipping God in public, in uniform, through our Lord Jesus Christ," said the chaplain. "We prayed in Jesus name, and God has answered our prayers. To God be the glory, great things He hath done."

Before his fast began on December 20th, the chaplain was in danger of losing his career for praying publicly in Jesus name and had been stripped of his uniform for all media appearances. But now, Klingenschmitt.s career is saved, and he can pray publicly in Jesus name. in uniform.

While the Navy has reluctantly accommodated Klingenschmitt.s request to worship publicly in uniform, the Navy has not yet granted religious liberty to all other chaplains.

The Chief of Navy Chaplains remains steadfast in his position that praying publicly in Jesus name denigrates other faiths and defends his predecessor's 1998 policy that tells chaplains who pray in Jesus name they ought to exclude themselves from participation in public events as the prayer giver.

Over 65 chaplains are still suing the Navy citing religious discrimination, and most of them are no longer in uniform, claiming they were passed over for promotion because their faith practices didn't conform to Navy pluralism. Congressional hearings and legislation may be forthcoming.

"Today the Navy has reluctantly obeyed the law, to grant me the religious liberty I always should've had," Klingenschmitt said. "But I won't stop fighting until every chaplain has the same rights I have today. I don't want special favors just because I've been on television. Mr. President, please sign the executive order to enforce the law since 1860 that allows ALL military chaplains to pray according to their diverse faith, in all settings, private and public.."

Despite requests by 74 Congressmen and 173,000 Americans, the President has not yet signed the executive order.

The public is invited to worship with Chaplain Klingenschmitt, in front of the White House in Lafayette Park, at 11 am Saturday 7 January 2006.