2016 Postmortem

Tx4obama

(36,974 posts) Wed Jul 24, 2013, 07:49 PM Jul 2013

House Republicans vote to ban nonbelievers from serving as military chaplains

House Republicans vote to ban nonbelievers from serving as military chaplains

In a mostly party-line vote, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a measure that prohibits the Department of Defense from allowing nonbelievers to serve as chaplains.

All but six House Republicans voted for the measure, which was offered as an amendment to the annual defense spending bill. Rep. John Fleming (R-LA), who offered the amendment, said it was necessary because the Pentagon was considering appointing an atheist chaplain to represent nonbelievers in the military.

“Since the formation of the chaplaincy in 1775, chaplains have been affiliated with a faith and spirituality,” Fleming said on the House floor. “By definition, chaplains minister to the spiritual needs of our men and women in the Armed Services, a vital function that an individual without an inclination towards spirituality would not be able to perform.”

Only 26 Democrats voted in favor of the amendment.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/24/house-republicans-vote-to-ban-nonbelievers-from-serving-as-military-chaplains/

Roll call of the votes here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll392.xml

14 replies

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House Republicans vote to ban nonbelievers from serving as military chaplains (Original Post) Tx4obama Jul 2013 OP

Fine. Let's ban chaplains. mwrguy Jul 2013 #1

An atheist chaplain? Wounded Bear Jul 2013 #2

It doesn't seem to fit together does it. newfie11 Jul 2013 #3

One can be "spiritual" or at least supportive Proud Liberal Dem Jul 2013 #4

I think they call that a psychiatrist... Wounded Bear Jul 2013 #5

Isn't that the basic Republican MO? Proud Liberal Dem Jul 2013 #6

That sounds illegal to me. sakabatou Jul 2013 #7

Most unnecessary vote ever nt geek tragedy Jul 2013 #8

I have a huge thing against Army Chaplains, particularly Evangelical ones Xyzse Jul 2013 #9

This is a new phenomenon, from the last 30 years or so... Wounded Bear Jul 2013 #11

Ok, I can see the use for Military Clergy but these Evangelicals need to stop that abuse Xyzse Jul 2013 #12

So atheism is NOT a religion? nt bemildred Jul 2013 #10

What A Colossal Waste of Time & Money otohara Jul 2013 #13

I'll trade them "no atheist chaplains" for "no U.S. civilians in combat zones" jmowreader Jul 2013 #14

mwrguy

(3,245 posts)

1. Fine. Let's ban chaplains.

Reply to Tx4obama (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 07:58 PM

Jul 2013

I don't want to pay for that shit.

Wounded Bear

(58,698 posts)

2. An atheist chaplain?

Reply to Tx4obama (Original post)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 09:01 PM

Jul 2013

newfie11

(8,159 posts)

3. It doesn't seem to fit together does it.

Reply to Wounded Bear (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 09:13 PM

Jul 2013

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,436 posts)

4. One can be "spiritual" or at least supportive

Reply to newfie11 (Reply #3)

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 11:06 PM

Jul 2013

Without being affiliated with a particular religious denomination, can't you?

Wounded Bear

(58,698 posts)

5. I think they call that a psychiatrist...

Reply to Proud Liberal Dem (Reply #4)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 02:07 AM

Jul 2013

Sorry to be flippant, but this just seems like a solution looking for a problem.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,436 posts)

6. Isn't that the basic Republican MO?

Reply to Wounded Bear (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:17 AM

Jul 2013

"Solutions" in search of a problem, particularly when their only goal is to get nothing done......

sakabatou

(42,170 posts)

7. That sounds illegal to me.

Reply to Tx4obama (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 09:41 AM

Jul 2013

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)

8. Most unnecessary vote ever nt

Reply to Tx4obama (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 10:00 AM

Jul 2013

Xyzse

(8,217 posts)

9. I have a huge thing against Army Chaplains, particularly Evangelical ones

Reply to Tx4obama (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:11 PM

Jul 2013

They have been creating problems in unit cohesion and are forcing individuals of different faiths or those who are not part of religion to go along with their beliefs.

It wouldn't be so bad, if they weren't so judgemental and so relentless about pushing their faith on others, which in effect creates friction between soldiers of different faiths.

I want them gone.

Wounded Bear

(58,698 posts)

11. This is a new phenomenon, from the last 30 years or so...

Reply to Xyzse (Reply #9)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:39 PM

Jul 2013

Prior to the rise of the "Moral Majority" and it's foray into American politics, military chaplains were nearly non-denominational, in that they provided help to all faiths and creeds. They weren't supposed to proselytize, merely provide aid and comfort in a spiritual manner.

I actually have no problem with military clergy in general terms, but the abuses must stop.

Xyzse

(8,217 posts)

12. Ok, I can see the use for Military Clergy but these Evangelicals need to stop that abuse

Reply to Wounded Bear (Reply #11)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:42 PM

Jul 2013

They make religion look bad. It already doesn't need any help on making it look worse.

bemildred

(90,061 posts)

10. So atheism is NOT a religion? nt

Reply to Tx4obama (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:16 PM

Jul 2013

otohara

(24,135 posts)

13. What A Colossal Waste of Time & Money

Reply to Tx4obama (Original post)

Fri Jul 26, 2013, 12:37 PM

Jul 2013

Where's the jobs Mr. Boner

jmowreader

(50,562 posts)

14. I'll trade them "no atheist chaplains" for "no U.S. civilians in combat zones"

Reply to Tx4obama (Original post)

Sat Jul 27, 2013, 10:23 PM

Jul 2013

During Iraq, the far, far right's big claim was that we couldn't let gays serve because it would damage morale to think that your battle buddy might be gay.

I think it hurt morale more for the troops to know that the cook in the mess hall made more money than the colonel, than to think Frank and Bob over there were going to celebrate returning from the mission at a leather bar.

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