Chaplain Urges President in Prayerful Case against Navy

Jeff · 12-21-2005, 05:38 PM

Navy Chaplain James C. Klingenschmitt, ordained in the Evangelical Episcopal Church, holds a communion wafer, and says it will be his last meal until President George W. Bush issues an Executive Order to allow public prayers by chaplains to be said in Jesus' name as well as letting all chaplains, regardless of religion, pray according to the dictates of their faith at a press conference on the north side of the White House on Tuesday December 20, 2005.

So far, 74 Congressional representatives have signed a letter asking President George W. Bush to issue an executive order affirming that Chaplains in the Air Force, whatever their religion, be allowed to pray in the name of Jesus or another name that their faith requires. The effort has so far resulted in 160,000 petitions to the President to do the same.

â€œToday Iâ€™m beginning a hunger strike, and this communion bread will be my last meal, until the President of the United States gives me back my uniform, and lets me pray publicly â€˜in Jesusâ€™ name,â€™â€ he said at a press conference on the north side of the White House yesterday. Klingenschmitt implored the president to sign the Executive Order and said heâ€™ll be outside the White House every day until it is signed.

Associate Chaplain · 12-03-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

Navy Chaplain James C. Klingenschmitt, ordained in the Evangelical Episcopal Church, holds a communion wafer, and says it will be his last meal until President George W. Bush issues an Executive Order to allow public prayers by chaplains to be said in Jesus' name as well as letting all chaplains, regardless of religion, pray according to the dictates of their faith at a press conference on the north side of the White House on Tuesday December 20, 2005.

So far, 74 Congressional representatives have signed a letter asking President George W. Bush to issue an executive order affirming that Chaplains in the Air Force, whatever their religion, be allowed to pray in the name of Jesus or another name that their faith requires. The effort has so far resulted in 160,000 petitions to the President to do the same.

â€œToday Iâ€™m beginning a hunger strike, and this communion bread will be my last meal, until the President of the United States gives me back my uniform, and lets me pray publicly â€˜in Jesusâ€™ name,â€™â€ he said at a press conference on the north side of the White House yesterday. Klingenschmitt implored the president to sign the Executive Order and said heâ€™ll be outside the White House every day until it is signed.

Earlier this year when I took a CPE course I meet one of the chaplains who worked with this former NAVY chaplain. To hear all the mis- representations this man did was totally un- CHRISTIAN. Try to look into Klingenschmitt's record and then judge him for what he actually did and said not what he wants you to thiink he said or did. I can not go into details about this because I only read the reports, posted on the internet.

carolinasteve · 12-03-2007, 03:34 AM

The ACLJ has been at the forefront of this issue since 2005.. Associate Chaplin, you are perhaps in the best position to shed some light on this issue. To my understanding, chaplains are being told by their superiors that they cannot not mention the name Jesus, in instances of public prayer, as in a mandatory assembly in which the chaplain was invited to give a benidiction or prayer. I'm not sure if this is only in the Airfoce, or extends to other military branches. Is this incorrect, or are there any other details you can provide on the issue, outside of what Chaplain Klingenschmitt, has misrepresented?
Here is the link to the ACLJ's most recent radio broadcasts on the issue, dated 11/12/07, and 11/13/07.
11/12/07
11/13/07

slavetoChrist · 12-03-2007, 04:12 AM

the pastor I had when I was down in TX knew one of the main guys in this fight.. his comment was "I agree with what he is attempting to accomplish, but I don't agree with the way he has gone about it"

Associate Chaplain · 12-03-2007, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolinasteve

The ACLJ has been at the forefront of this issue since 2005.. Associate Chaplin, you are perhaps in the best position to shed some light on this issue. To my understanding, chaplains are being told by their superiors that they cannot not mention the name Jesus, in instances of public prayer, as in a mandatory assembly in which the chaplain was invited to give a benidiction or prayer. I'm not sure if this is only in the Airfoce, or extends to other military branches. Is this incorrect, or are there any other details you can provide on the issue, outside of what Chaplain Klingenschmitt, has misrepresented?
Here is the link to the ACLJ's most recent radio broadcasts on the issue, dated 11/12/07, and 11/13/07.
11/12/07
11/13/07

From What I was told about this, they are permitted to reflect when praying who their savior is. I am told there are functions that chaplains can attend where they are permitted to wear their uniforn and functions where they can not. He started off by not following regs. and would not follow proper Military procedure. Like I said up front, I was not there but one of his commanding officers spent weeks in class with me, and all I heard and read was about "chaplain K." I understand the Navy gave him many chances to admit the mistakes he made and his punishment would have been little. However Klingenschmitt chose not to obay and is trying to get the PUBLIC to think it is because he said JESUS. One may even be interested in knowing the story he told to another Navy Base housing when he was relieved of Duty and told since he was no longer in the Navy he had to live off base. Because of his actions I believe he lost all pay and military benefits,this would not have been the case at first.

On another note, this commanding officer is also from Texas.

I have nothing to gain or loose with these remarks I just wanted to express what I heard and read for so many weeks earlier this year. I must consider this closed from my point.

carolinasteve · 12-03-2007, 05:06 AM

I appreciate your candor and your limiting yourslef from drawing conclusions. All I have heard is that this is an issue, and my only source was the radio broadcasts of which I have posted links to 2 of many. Whether the whole story is presented in those broadcasts I can't say, nor had I heard the chaplain in question mentioned on any of them. I see no harm in supporting the executive order, as it offers no special protection for any specific faith, only protection for the chaplains to pray in accordance to their faith and their conscience, as they were ordained. But maybe the old maxim applies, "there's one in every crowd.

"

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode