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Jones introduces bill to protect chaplains

Chaplains would be able to close prayers outside of religious services according to their faith under a bill introduced Wednesday by Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C.

The bill, HR 6514, would allow Christian chaplains to close prayers outside of religious services in the name of Jesus Christ. Chaplains are discouraged to close prayers in the name of Jesus or any other entity besides God, according to statements released by Jones.

“Officially inhibiting or defining what chaplains can and cannot say in effect establishes an official religion and violates our military chaplains’ First Amendment rights,” Jones said in a statement. “The demand for so-called ‘nonsectarian’ prayer is merely a euphemism declaring that prayers will be acceptable only so long as they censor Christian beliefs.”

The Air Force and Navy implemented guidelines in 2006 that restricted prayers in public events where attendance was not voluntary in order to discourage proselytizing. But the 2007 Defense Authorization Act ordered the rescinding of those rules and a return to the previous policy, which does not specify or restrict the way in which chaplains pray.

“The repeal of the restrictive Air Force and Navy guidelines was a mark of progress in the effort to restore the First Amendment right of military chaplains to pray as they see fit,” Jones said.

Since 2005, Jones has been calling on the White House, unsuccessfully, to issue a presidential executive order to protect the right of chaplains to pray according to their faith.

His bill has been referred to the House Armed Services Committee for consideration.