CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY December 18, 2012 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427
Chaplains commend NDAA conference committee for protecting conscience of service members
WASHINGTON — Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, an organization of chaplain endorsers, commends the National Defense Authorization Act conference committee for including language that protects the conscience of our military personnel.
“This is a significant step in assuring that all of our military personnel, including chaplains, can continue to serve and maintain their religious beliefs or moral convictions without fear of retribution,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USAR retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “We are very grateful for the work of Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, in preserving this language in the conference report, as well as the other members of the House Armed Services Committee who supported this effort.”
As passed by the conference committee the NDAA requires the armed forces to accommodate the beliefs of a service member and prohibits any adverse personnel action, discrimination, or denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment based on the member’s beliefs. The amendment also prohibits a member of the armed forces from requiring a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony that is contrary to the chaplain’s conscience and religious beliefs.
“We have already had chaplains make courageous decisions to say ‘no’ to performing so-called same-sex ceremonies because of their convictions. This action by congress will protect these chaplains,” Crews said.
The NDAA is now before both chambers of Congress. The House and Senate will vote on the conference committee report within the next few days.
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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