CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY December 11, 2012 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427

Chaplains concerned about war on Christmas

Navy leadership failed to support religious liberty

WASHINGTON — Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty expresses disappointment over the Navy’s decision to inhibit the religious liberty of military personnel at a U.S. military facility in Bahrain.

For several years, military personnel at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain have chosen to celebrate the Christmas season with a tree-lighting ceremony along with a live Nativity scene. They also announce the arrival of Santa Claus, sing carols, and enjoy refreshments.

This year, after a complaint by the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, the Navy leadership ordered the Nativity scene to be removed from this year’s celebration.

“This is another example of the military wrongly yielding to those who promote freedom from religion while squelching the constitutional protections for the free exercise of religion,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USAR retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “Every American, especially those who wear the uniform, should be allowed to exercise their religious liberties. We are very disappointed in the Navy’s decision not to support the free exercise of religion of the personnel assigned to NSA Bahrain.”

Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers, the faith groups that provide chaplains for the U.S. military and other agencies needing chaplains. The endorsers in Chaplain Alliance speak for more than 2,600 chaplains serving the Armed Forces.

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