CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY July 9, 2020 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org
Navy updates coronavirus policy to allow church attendance, ‘major victory’ for religious liberty advocates
WASHINGTON — Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is commending the United States Navy for amending the Navy FRAGO of 24 June 2020 to allow attendance in person for personnel as long as they follow the local protocols. The new order reads that “MEMBERS MAY ATTEND RELIGIOUS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP PROVIDED THEY COMPLY WITH MITIGATION MEASURES REFERENCED IN PARA 5.A.7.B.1 AND THE PRECAUTIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) FOR COMMUNITIES OF FAITH FOUND HERE: HTTPS://WWW.CDC.GOV/CORONAVIRUS/2019-NCOV/COMMUNITY/FAITH-BASED.HTML
Chaplain Craig Muehler, CAPT, CHC, USN (Ret), President of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty said,” We are grateful for the leadership of the Navy for correcting the grievous error of restricting Religious Liberty. We commend them for now allowing all personnel who were affected by this order to attend worship in their civilian congregations with their families again. I personally was contacted by a number of Sailors who were heart-broken that they were not able to attend church with their families even when their congregation observed all the safety protocols required. The Navy has corrected this error and they are now allowed to practice their God-given and Constitutionally protected Religious Liberty. We commend the Navy for supporting the religious liberty of all their personnel and families.”
Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USA Retired, Executive Director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty stated, “We commend the Acting Under Secretary for the Navy for his letter that offered guidance that makes clear that Navy personnel and their families may worship off base. Those who wear the uniform to ensure religious liberty for their fellow Americans must be allowed to exercise their God-given, Constitutionally protected rights as well.”
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.
###