CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
March 23, 2018 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at pwright@chaplainalliance.org or c/o Phil Wright at (612) 250- 2072
Chaplains commends Navy leadership for its decision to deny ‘humanist chaplain’ application
WASHINGTON— Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty commends the recent decision by Navy leadership to deny the application of a prospective humanist chaplain initially approved to be a Navy Chaplain by a Navy Chaplain advisory board. “The Chaplains Corps was established to meet the religious needs of those serving in the military,” said Chaplain (COL) Phil Wright, USA retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “It would seem obvious that someone who is hostile to religion by definition of his beliefs could not meet the religious needs of our men and women serving their country in the military.”
Since its inception in 1775, the Chaplains Corps has met the religious needs of military members whether at home station, deployed, or in combat.
Wright continued: “I also appreciate the efforts of Sen. Roger Wicker, Rep. Doug Lamborn, and their colleagues who expressed their concerns to the Navy through their letters to Navy leadership concerning the possible appointment of the humanist chaplain. They reminded the Navy that approval of a humanist chaplain was inconsistent with the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment and the Department of Defense’s own guidelines. Congress’ strong advocacy for religious liberty and for the tradition of the Chaplain Corps providing for the spiritual needs of the men and women who serve our nation in the military is encouraging to us and should encourage those who have volunteered to support and defend the Constitution.”
Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers, the religious faith groups that provide chaplains for the U.S. military and other agencies needing chaplains. The endorsers in Chaplain Alliance collectively endorse more than two-thirds of the 5,500 military chaplains serving in the Armed Forces.
###