Victory for Military Chaplains Who Pray "In Jesus Name"

[David E. Guinn]

I hardly agree that he lost on the merits of the argument.  I have yet to read any reasonable interpretation of law or history that supports your position.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gordon James Klingenschmitt 
  To: Paul Finkelman ; religionlaw at lists.ucla.edu 
  Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 9:13 AM
  Subject: Re: Victory for Military Chaplains Who Pray "In Jesus Name"


  Having lost this debate on its intellectual merits, Mr. Finkelman resorts to personal attacks on my character.  

  Yet I agree with him on one point, that pride is a terrible sin, so I shall here endeavor to humbly practice Proverbs 27:2:  "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips" lest I appear to toot my own horn.     

  84% of the Sailors on my ship agreed, "the command chaplain cares for all denominations, regardless of faith or belief.  

  94% of Americans supported me during my hunger strike, and only 6% supported the Navy's position, in this poll:
  http://persuade.tv/frenzy/WNDpoll.pdf

  85% of Americans supported my position on the issue of letting chaplains pray in Jesus name, in this poll:
  http://persuade.tv/frenzy6/DecaturDaily17Sep06.pdf 

  Ultimately, even public opinion is secondary to God's opinion, and if I have pleased Him then I am justified.  

  But having lost this NATIONAL debate, the anti-Jesus crowd was properly rebuked by the American public (who is decidedly pro-Jesus), and so the Navy and Air Force were ordered by Congress to respect public opinion (and the Constitution), so freedom of religious expression was properly restored. 

  I don't mind the personal insults by Mr. Guinn and Mr. Finkelman, (I've been insulted by better men), but their lack of intellectual argument appears very much as "sour grapes."   

  Chaplain Klingenschmitt




  Paul Finkelman <pfink at albanylaw.edu> wrote:
    Sounds very much like someone tooting his own horn? Is excessive pride
    also a sin? 

    One can only wonder how G-d will respond to someone who brags about his
    work to make outcasts of gay members of the human family. Perhaps the
    Chaplain should try marching a mile or two in the boot of a gay sailor
    or soldier.

    I am no expert on the chaplain's faith, but have spent a great deal of
    my life studying religion and this is the first time I have ever heard a
    Christian assert that praying fomr the Book of Psalms compromised a
    Christian's faith.

    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




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