Republican Holds Up Vital Defense Spending To Promote Sectarian Prayer

[kpete]

Proposal on Military Chaplains and Prayer Holds Up Bill

By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: September 19, 2006
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 — A bill that sets the Pentagon’s spending levels is being held up by controversy over a provision that would allow military chaplains to offer sectarian prayers at nondenominational military events.

The provision, which is being pushed by Representative Duncan Hunter, Republican of California, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, says “chaplains in each of the military services would have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of their own conscience.” The Senate version of the spending bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, has no such language.

Chaplains can pray according to the traditions of their faith at worship services, where attendance is voluntary. But they are also called upon to offer prayers at mandatory functions, like changes of command, banquets and speeches.

The provision’s backers, among them Representative Walter B. Jones, Republican of North Carolina, contend that Christian chaplains in such cases have long invoked Christ.

more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/washington/19chaplains.html?_r=1&ref=washington&oref=slogin

[Tom Joad]

1. The only way the world has a prayer is if the US ends military spending