CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY May 17, 2021 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427
Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty Asks Army Leadership to Intervene in CH Calvert Case
WASHINGTON — Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is gravely concerned with the decision by U.S. Army leadership to reprimand Chaplain (Major) Andrew Calvert for the use of his personal Facebook page on which he comments regarding a news article on a possible change to the current DoD transgender policy. While at the time of his post, Chaplain Calvert’s statements were fully consistent with and supportive of existing DOD policy, it is far more concerning to note that his post was also consistent with his sincerely held religious beliefs – the same beliefs held by the overwhelmingly vast majority of faith groups in the United States who believe transgenderism to be immoral. Chaplain Calvert represents a Christian faith tradition, is a highly decorated soldier, and expressed views within his legal right to express.
“The right to ‘freedom of conscience’ is the most sacred belief held by all Americans and proponents of a free society, and that is why it is our first Constitutional right” said Bishop Derek Jones, Executive Director of Chaplain Alliance. “Chaplain Calvert’s sincerely held beliefs are protected by the First Amendment and our Federal courts have repeatedly ruled in favor of First Amendment protection for religious expression such as Chaplain Calvert’s.”
As stated, at the time of Chaplain Calvert’s posting, DoD Instruction 6130.03-VI clearly stated that “a history of gender dysphoria is disqualifying” unless a licensed health provider certifies that certain criteria are satisfied. Therefore, at the time of the investigation, Chaplain Calvert’s statements were fully consistent with and supportive of existing DoD policy.
Chaplain Alliance, in the strongest terms possible, asks U.S. Army senior leadership to intervene and dismiss the charges and non-judicial punishment against Chaplain Calvert. To allow this travesty to continue will be a first step toward anti-religious bigotry in the Armed Forces and our society.
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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