CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY April 22, 2014 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427

Chaplains encourage Va. legislators to override governor’s veto

WASHINGTON — Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty has sent a letter encouraging members of the Virginia legislature to vote Wednesday to override the recent veto by Gov. McAuliffe of SB 555. The bill, which passed the Senate 37–0 and the House 69–28, merely protects the sermons of chaplains to be true to their faith.

“This legislation, passed by overwhelming margins, does not make new law,” said Chaplain (Col.) Ron Crews, USAR retired, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “This bill merely affirms, more specifically, national and state law as well as long-established military regulations that allow military chaplains to be true to their faith groups. I have no idea why Gov. McAuliffe would veto such a bill.”

Crews served for 15 years as a chaplain in the Georgia Army National Guard and five years in the Massachusetts National Guard, including two years as the senior chaplain for the state. He also served eight years on active duty, including assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division and supporting the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

“I sincerely hope that the legislature will vote to override the governor’s veto and make clear that chaplains serving in the Virginia National Guard are free to preach according to the dictates of their faith without fear of recrimination,” said Crews.

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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