Military Chaplains Refusing Same-Sex Marriage Order?

Over 2,000 Catholic Chaplains Defying The Pentagon?



By Dell Hill

A number of Catholic chaplains have apparently refused to follow a Pentagon directive, ordering them to perform same-sex marriages.  The story first came out via the Godfather Politics blog and I’m continuing to follow up on this report to determine the exact number of chaplains involved.  The report suggests “over 2,000”.

If accurate, this will become a serious issue for the Obama administration and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to address during the immediate future weeks.  

“On September 30, 2011, the Pentagon issued a directive to all military chaplains to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies and to make military chapels available for any such private ceremonies.

In response to the Pentagon directive, the Catholic Archdiocese for Military Service issued a statement that no Catholic chaplains serving in the military will perform or participate in any same-sex marriage ceremonies at any military chapels.  In conjunction with the Catholic response, members of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty have issued a statement indicating that they will also not participate in performing same-sex ceremonies.

The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty represents over 2,000 military chaplains.  Serving as a military chaplain for 28 years, now retired Col. Ron Crews, executive director of the organization said,

“They made a very strong statement saying that no Catholic chaplains serving in the military will participate in any same-sex ceremonies at any chapels. We appreciate that strong stand.  So we just wanted to let the Department of Defense know that it’s not only the Catholic chaplains, but that some 2,000 chaplains who come from evangelical backgrounds are saying our chaplains will not participate in same-sex ceremonies in the military.”

Col. Crews also said that they are petitioning Congress to pass a right of conscience clause to be added to the revised code allowing military chaplains the right of not being forced to conduct or be involved in any activity, such as performing same-sex marriage ceremonies, that goes against their religious beliefs and what they strongly believe the Bible to say about homosexuality.”

Read the entire report  by clicking right here.  And stay tuned for updates.