Clergy To Protest At White House

Friday, a group of clergymen were to gather in front of the White House to ask President Bush to nullify the military policies that stop the clergy from praying 'in Jesus name'.

One chaplain told the news that he would be out of a job. He has had a glowing fitness report for 14 years; yet he will be without retirement, and his family will be kicked out of government housing. In other words, the last 14 years have meant nothing, and he'll be out on his own, minus the retirement he would have gotten.

In October, 75 members of Congress, led by Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., wrote to the president urging him to sign an executive order guaranteeing the right of chaplains to pray according to their religious traditions.

Jones, who is a Catholic, told the Denver Post that, when people know you are a Chrisian, they know your faith, and they know you believe in Jesus as your Savior. He says they shouldn't be made to deny their faith.

Said the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, a Presbyterian minister and director of the Christian Defense Coalition: "Sadly, we are witnessing a growing hostility toward expressions of faith in the public square. It is important the public be reminded that the First Amendment promises freedom 'of' religion not freedom 'from' religion. We call upon President Bush to issue this executive order allowing each military chaplain to pray according to their respective faith tradition, to ensure that religious freedom and the First Amendment are honored and protected."

Hopefully, President Bush will come across with this order, which would make it clear that Chaplains have the right to pray the way their religion dictates.

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