Republicans Reject Rep. Israel's Amendment Calling for Religious Tolerance in Military
Republicans Reject Rep. Israel's Amendment Calling for Religious Tolerance in Military
Israel Amendment Would Codify Long-Standing Tradition of Non-Sectarianism among Military Chaplains and Clarify Language in the Defense bill that Seems to Support Proselytizing
05/04/06 Washington, DC On Wednesday night, Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY 2nd), the only New York Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 [H.R. 5122] to support religious tolerance among military chaplains. The base version of the bill considered by the committee included language that appeared to support proselytizing, in response to recent clarifications by the Services on the role of chaplains and religion at military institutions and functions. Mr. Israel's amendment brought the language back in line with current military guidelines by requiring military chaplains to demonstrate "sensitivity, respect and tolerance" for the beliefs of those to whom they minister. It was defeated on a near party-line vote, 26-31, with every Republican voting against Rep. Israel except Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI 10th).
"Two weeks ago I was on a bipartisan delegation to Iraq where we urged Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to lower their sectarian barriers and form a pluralistic government," said Israel. "Last night, I returned to a House Armed Services Committee meeting that raised sectarian barriers by voting against my amendment calling for respect and tolerance for different faiths in our military. My language guaranteed chaplains their right to pray how they want, when they want, where they want and to whom they want. All it added was that they should demonstrate tolerance, respect and sensitivity to other faiths. Incredibly, the majority voted against those values."
The issue has become a contentious one since a Lutheran Air Force Chaplain blew the whistle on religious insensitivity at the Air Force Academy last year. Reports pointed to a number of troublesome practices at the Air Force Academy, including the disparaging of cadets who did not attend religious functions as participating in "Heathen Flights." The Commandant at the time sent out a number of emails that included overt religious suggestions; a number of cadets relayed accounts of professors, who, on the first day of class, announced that they were born-again Christians and urged the cadets to adopt the same religious beliefs. Additionally, the football coach hung a banner in the locker room that read "Team Jesus."
The Republicans inserted the following language in the bill: "Each chaplain shall have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of the chaplain's own conscience, except as must be limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible."
Rep. Israel attempted to add the following clarifying clause to the end of that sentence, "except that chaplains shall demonstrate sensitivity, respect and tolerance for all faiths present on each occasion at which prayers are offered."
Last May, Rep. Israel offered an amendment to the Defense Department Authorization that raised vocal objections from several of his Republican colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee. In June, Rep. Israel introduced legislation to create a commission to look into religious freedom in the military services. Such a commission would be appointed by the president, Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate and House. It would also include persons from both inside and outside of government and the military, and those who are experts in pastoral care.
http://www.house.gov/israel/news/050406-hascchap.htm