Father Steven E. Clark
The repeal of DADT will have far-reaching repercussions for the military chaplaincy, and makes the only acceptable expressions of morality those which are consistent with the provisions within Uniform Code of Military Justice. Father Steven Clark has an excellent letter in today’s Journal News. He speaks with a unique voice of authority.
As a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and now a member of the clergy, in my opinion the striking down of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for the Armed Forces will have negative consequences on the free exercise of religion for many members of the military and, more specifically, on the chaplain corps of all services. Our senators, representatives and president in one bill have struck at the very heart of the constitutional guarantee of the free exercise of religion.
What will happen to Christian, Jewish and Muslim chaplains who adhere to traditional moral teaching based on their holy scriptures and teach that homosexual activity is immoral? What will happen to chaplains who are no longer allowed to deliver sermons, homilies and teachings counter to accepted military policy when dealing with homosexual activity of service members? Will they be disciplined, prosecuted or discharged? Will their respective religious authorities call them home in order to protect them from either compromising their beliefs or prosecution by military authorities? Who will then serve the troops in their respective faith groups? This is a potential constitutional disaster the magnitude of which the members of Congress and our president seem to have not considered — or did they and just don’t care?
This does not bode well for our constitutional guarantee of the free exercise of religion and specifically for a chaplain corps whose active duty numbers have shrunk to a point that present-day billets go unfilled.
The Rev. Steven Clark
Mount Kisco
The writer is pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mount Kisco.
It’s hard to say whether they care or not. It’s awful to think our government might really intend to destroy the religious presence in the military. It has such dark implications. But even apart from that possibility, I look at what has happened in Canada, with homosexual rights groups gaining so much power that clerics who refuse to bow to pressure and speak out on moral issues, refuse to marry them or promote their issues are fined or jailed. It’s just shocking what a slippery slope this forced “tolerance” becomes. It becomes the worst kind of persecution — dishonest and self-congratulatory. My dad was a Naval officer for many years and knew many homosexual officers and enlisted personnel. He said it was never an issue, never a problem, because their private lives were their own and not a public issue. I really think this chaplain is hitting it right on the head with his concerns, and I think the Canadian model proves him right, sadly. May God have mercy on this dear country of ours, where religious freedoms are threatened by the government that was set up to protect them.
Lisa,
The agenda is simple. If we do not embrace homophilia, we are accused of homophobia.
Lawrence Auster has an entry here about conservatives lying down and proclaiming they were always ok with the repeal: http://www.amnation.com/vfr/archives/018280.html
I bring that up because I recall when pro-lifers were told that we HAD to nominate Bush because otherwise that monster McCain would get it. Then we were told we HAD to vote for the former monster McCain because otherwise an even bigger monster Obama would win.
This is what is becoming known as the Hegelian Mambo: Many steps left and an occasional step right. Eventually one has to stop dancing to the neo-con tune.
Gentles All,
I’ll do my best to respond, however, last night I was called and informed that my Aunt (also Godmother) has taken a precipitous and unexpected decline and has only a day or two left to live. I’m leaving now to join my family, but will be checking in. God Bless.
I have mixed feelings about DADT. On on hand, I don’t want it to become an issue like you describe where chaplains are punished for upholding the doctrines of their faith.
On the other hand I once heard a priest military chaplain talking about the rise in military suicides since the institution of DADT because if a soldier with homosexual feelings went for counseling to a military chaplain or therapist that chaplain or therapist was required to report the soldier.
What will happen to Christian, Jewish and Muslim chaplains who adhere to traditional moral teaching based on their holy scriptures and teach that homosexual activity is immoral?
Gee, I imagine that they will go the way of Jewish and Muslim chaplains who adhere to traditional moral teaching based on their holy scriptures and teach that any sexual activity outside of marriage is immoral.
Adultery and fornication are legal (and thank god for the latter!), and this doesn’t mean religions are required to promote them.
To the person who asked me to delete the two comments being held for approval, it’s done.