Victory for Military Chaplains Who Pray "In Jesus Name"

[Paul Finkelman]

Brad Pardee writes:

"It sounds to me very much like the Navy has, in essence, said that a
person 
can only be a chaplain if they act as if they don't actually believe 
anything.  That doesn't sound like what 200+ years worth of American 
fighting men and women were willing to die to defend."

There is a difference between belief and forcing soldiers and sailors to
listen to prayers that are offensive to them.  The Chaplain was free to
believe anything he wants; and to pray privately with whatever word or
language he choses; he was not free to impose his beliefs on others. 
That is also what freedom is about. 

 

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Paul Finkelman
President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law
     and Public Policy
Albany Law School
80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York   12208-3494

518-445-3386 
pfink at albanylaw.edu