CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY November 17, 2014 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427
Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty to testify before Congress
WASHINGTON — Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USA Retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, will testify before the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday concerning the need for strong religious protections and accommodations in the military.
As one example, Crews will address the duplicity of the Air Force in removing from a military website an officer’s article that shared how his faith in Jesus Christ has sustained him in his military career while allowing an article from an airman who is proud to be an atheist to remain.
“No American, especially those who serve in the armed forces, should be forced to abandon their religious beliefs,” said Crews. “For that reason, I am honored to represent our military chaplains and those they serve before the House Armed Services Committee. Those who fight for our freedoms should not be asked to surrender them.”
The Military Personnel Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and ranking member Susan Davis (D-CA) extended the invitation to Crews to testify at the hearing, which will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. in Room 2118 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will be broadcast live on the Web. The hearing was originally scheduled for September.
Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is a leading voice on religious freedom issues for U.S. military personnel. It has presented issues of concern to many HASC members. It has also assisted in writing language that became section 533, the “Right of Conscience Protection,” of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.
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.
###