By Sen. Jim Inhofe and Sen. Roger Wicker Oct. 5
Our Founding Fathers spoke much about the importance of “freedom of conscience” and its underpinning of all other freedoms. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson said, “We are bound, you, I, and every one to make common cause even with error itself, to maintain the common right of freedom of conscience.”
Recent decisions by the Obama administration and Pentagon leaders threaten this common right, and their assault on freedom of conscience raises new and serious concerns — especially for our servicemen and women. Our armed services were created with an apolitical framework, and this unique platform has helped maintain Americans’ trust and respect for the military. Since repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, however, the administration has looked to the military as a way to advocate a liberal social agenda and challenge Americans’ freedom of conscience.
Last year, the Department of Defense (DOD) said state laws would be acknowledged and upheld when it came to marriage and civil unions. Now, in a heated presidential election season, DOD and the Obama administration are pushing the limits on their promise and the rule of law for the sake of politics. A prime example of this occurred in May, when the first homosexual marriage-like ceremony took place in a chapel on Fort Polk in Louisiana.
Marriage is only legally recognized in Louisiana if it is a union between a man and a woman. Additionally, Louisiana law bans homosexual “marriage” and civil unions from being recognized by the state, regardless of where they were performed. The portrayal of the marriage-like ceremony on Fort Polk as strictly a religious ceremony appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to circumvent Louisiana law and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Even though President Obama has unilaterally decided to shirk his responsibility to uphold the law of the land by refusing to enforce DOMA, the military should not be used a pawn to advance the president’s liberal social agenda.
In July, the Pentagon granted a one-time waiver to members of the armed services to march in uniform during a homosexual-pride parade in San Diego, Calif. The decision by the Obama administration was a clear violation of military rules on service members’ participation in political activities while in uniform. Constituents and members of the military across the United States and overseas have called Congress to let us know they will not stand by as this administration disrespects religious freedom.
Military chaplains are among the most affected by the administration’s social activism. We’ve been made aware of chaplains at military installations being encouraged to resign, threatened with early retirement or reassigned because of their beliefs. This is why we introduced the Military Religious Freedom Act (S. 3256) to protect the conscience rights of our military chaplains. The law would prohibit DOD from using conscience or beliefs as a basis for discrimination or denial of promotion or assignment. Chaplains would have their religious rights protected when choosing whether or not to perform homosexual “marriage” ceremonies or participating in military-sponsored couples’ counseling.
Additionally, the bill would prevent DOD property from being used to perform homosexual “marriage” or commitment ceremonies. Military installations should not be exploited in order to challenge marriage laws in 44 states that recognize marriage only between a man and a woman. Despite the Obama administration’s unilateral refusal to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, it still remains the law of the land. As such, DOD must follow the statute as it seeks to implement policy changes related to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The president’s focus should be on advancing the best interests of our service members, overall military readiness and national security. While the president tries to push a controversial social agenda, our military men and women are suffering from dangerous defense budget cuts, outdated military equipment, alarmingly high suicide rates and high unemployment following their time in service. With sequestration looming, the president is threatening to keep our men and women on the front lines while reducing their needed resources by another 10 percent.
Our brave men and women deserve better. They are our nation’s great defenders of freedom, and the Military Religious Freedom Act will help afford them the respect they deserve.
Sen. Jim Inhofe is an Oklahoma Republican. Sen. Roger Wicker is a Mississippi Republican. They both serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Replies
as with all things Obama,...it is politics before law, people or country...
we the people,who are the real government.the devil{ovomit is trying to fool we the people again,satan and his band of evil treasonous traitor puppets,will try to give the people his best magic act,for now,be not fooled or afraid,for the devil has many faces,so you will be given fluff,inuendos,half truths,and slight of hand,the old shell game{ovomit{devil}wants you to keep your eye on the pea,now under which shell is it.god bless romney/ryan,ron paul,sheriff joe and cold case posse,cmon sheriff joe you started off with a double with ovomit,and the birth certificate,now hit a home run and arrest the ineligible treasonous traitor in the wh.god bless both wrongfully murdered border guards,frank serpico,chuck norris,and all american veterans/citizens.one nation under god
Obama is all for Obama....the Hell with everything and everybody else. Sadly, it was always there, many were too blind to see. May we never ever elect someone with out vetting them. We need a president that shows up, not an empty ego.
EVIL WILL STAY ON THE ATTACK UNTIL WE RID THIS COUNTRY OF THE EVIL WITHIN ( COMMUNIST ).
What they deserve and what they will get if we do not rid ourselves of this tyrannical toad with delusions of godhood who thinks he is an emperor, are two very different kettle of fish. We need to organize in any event and clean house after the elections: Both HOUSES, if necessary and attend to restoring our constitution, the rule of law, our conventional morality, religious and economic freedom , opposition to the UN agenda 21 and any treaty which in any way surrenders any piece or part of our sovereignty to that organization; inimical to our existence since it's inception. We ought to throw them out of our country and terminate our membership with them. We do not need their interference in our affairs Shut down ALL immigration, deport every illegal, cease unearned and unpaid entitlements to those remaining and use the funding to bolster,SS and Medicare for those who PAID for those programs for a lifetime and are AMERICAN CITIZENS , many of whom are Military veterans.After awhile, we can look at cutting the size and benefits to federal agencies and government bureaus as many of them are not needed. With less bureaucracy will come more prosperity. It is simple enough to do if one has the WILL to do it. Let's get rid of what we have and elect those who DO!
May God protect them, they're doing His work and the forces of evil will be aligned against them. Thank you Senators for sticking by our military's right of conscience.