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October
9, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 17Oakland,
CA
Proposal on
chaplains’ prayers could
hurt U.S. military, archbishop says
WASHINGTON
(CNS) -- A congressional proposal that would have guaranteed the right
of military chaplains to pray according to their conscience could also
have had an “adverse effect on unit cohesion” and even result
in a ban on all public prayer in the military, according to the head of
the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services.
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien said in a Sept. 21 letter to U.S. Catholic
chaplains that a proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization
Act of 2007 “would seek to impose a legislative mandate for military
chaplains without considering the religious needs of all military members.”
“We believe this legislation may well result in less public prayer
and marginalization of military chaplains,” he added.
Although the House approved the mandate, the Senate did not. House-Senate
conferees agreed Sept. 29 to replace the House language with a section
overturning current Air Force and Navy regulations that restricted prayers
specific to one faith at public military ceremonies.
Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., and sponsor of the proposed amendment, said that
if he is re-elected he would introduce legislation that explicitly protects
chaplains’ rights to pray according to their conscience.
