Jones: Military Can't Restrict Chaplains

JONES: MILITARY CAN'T RESTRICT CHAPLAINS
Congressman attended GOP event in Camden

CAMDEN September 18, 2006 - U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., told local Republicans Saturday that their party is the last line of defense against those would deny the nation's religious heritage.

"Who's going to protect the Judeo-Christian values of this country?" Jones asked. "There is only one party that will do that."

Jones, who represents the state's 3rd Congressional District, was the guest of honor Saturday at a hot dog dinner hosted by the Camden County Republican Party. More than 60 Republicans from Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank and other neighboring counties attended the event in the Camden High School cafeteria.

Jones spoke for 20 minutes on a number of topics during the appearance, giving his views on immigration, the war in Iraq and the nation's deficit. But most of his focus was on criticizing the U.S. military for what he said are its efforts to prevent military chaplains from uttering the words "Jesus Christ" during prayers outside their chapels.

According to Jones, the U.S. military has been de-emphasizing the nation's Christian heritage since the early 1990s, especially when it comes to how chaplains are to conduct worship services. He cited at least three instances where military chaplains serving in Iraq or Afghanistan were informed not to pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

One of those incidents occurred five months ago and involved a U.S. Army chaplain in Iraq, Jones said. A company commander had asked the chaplain to conduct a service for a fallen soldier before his body was to be sent home to his family. Before the chaplain could perform the service, however, he had to submit his prayer to Army officials, who crossed out the reference to Jesus Christ, Jones said.

Because the chaplain would be conducting the prayer away from the base chapel and among soldiers of different faiths, the Army said he could not be allowed to pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Jones said.

According to Jones, the chaplain ignored the order and used Jesus Christ's name in the prayer. He was reprimanded soon after the memorial service, Jones said.

"Ten days later that chaplain was removed from his chapel in Iraq," Jones said, his anger rising. "I called for an investigation and three weeks later the chaplain was back in his chapel in Iraq."

Jones said he has spoken with a number of retired military chaplains about the issue, including several who served in Vietnam.

"I never had one who told me they were restricted to pray outside their church on base," Jones said.

Jones believes military chaplains of all faiths should be allowed to pray openly.

"I will fight just as hard for the rabbi as I would for a preacher or a priest," he said. "Why in the world should the government be having an influence on the mind of a chaplain?"

Jones also briefly addressed the Iraq war. Three years ago the congressman voted to give President Bush the authority to use U.S. troops in Iraq. He raised eyebrows within Republican circles last year, however, when he joined war critics in demanding that Bush set a time table for bringing the troops home.

"All we're asking for is that we have a definition of victory so that when we see victory we recognize it," Jones said Saturday.

Jones also spoke briefly about the nation's rising debt, which he said has risen $1.61 million a day since September 2004 and currently sits at approximately $8.5 trillion.

"That's not what the Republican Party stands for," he said of the ballooning debt. "That's not what the conservative party stands for. If we don't do something now there will be no turning back."

Regarding immigration, Jones said he's more worried terrorists are entering the United States illegally through Mexico than he is about terrorists in the Middle East.

"I'm not so concerned about terrorists in Iraq or Afghanistan," he said. "I'm worried about terrorism south of the border."

According to Jones, there are approximately 12 million people living in the United States illegally.

"This country cannot afford this explosion of illegal immigrants," he said.

Jones agrees with the House leadership's on the immigration debate, differing with Bush's and the Senate's position. He says U.S. officials first need to secure the nation's borders before they begin discussing what to do with the 12 million illegal immigrants already here.

"Until we secure our borders we cannot have this debate," Jones said.

Saturday's event was a political event, and a number of Republicans seeking office in contested races were in attendance. Among the Republicans Jones help introduce to the crowd were Phil Faison, candidate for the Shiloh seat on Camden's Board of Commissioners; Michael McLain, who is seeking the at-large seat on the Camden board; Pat Duckwall, who is running for sheriff; and Ron Toppin, who is running for the N.C. Senate in the 1st District.

Jones also introduced Moyock lawyer John J. Flora III, who is running for district court judge in the 1st Judicial District.

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