the FDRQ strike again...
Posted on 05/09/2011 6:16:00 AM PDT by markomalley
(CNSNews.com) – Anticipating the elimination of the military ban on homosexuality, the Office of the Chief of Navy Chaplains has decided that same-sex couples in the Navy will be able to get married in Navy chapels, and that Navy chaplains will be allowed to perform the ceremonies -- if homosexual marriage is legal in the state where the unions are to be performed.
The advisory came in the form of an April 13 memo issued to all chaplains, in which the Chief of Navy Chaplains, Admiral Michael Tidd, said the Chaplain Corps was revising its Tier I training manuals, which had previously indicated that same-sex marriages are not authorized on federal property.
Instead, Tidd called for chaplains to comply with service-wide efforts underway to be more accepting of homosexuality and same-sex marriage as the end of the military policy on homosexuality nears.
Citing "additional legal review" by Navy attorneys, the admiral said the Navy "has concluded that, generally speaking, base facility use is sexual orientation neutral.”
“If the base is located in a state where same-sex marriage is legal, then the base facilities may be used to celebrate the marriage,” the admiral’s directive states.
The admiral’s memo also gives chaplains permission to "marry" homosexual couples – but would not force them to perform ceremines.
“Regarding chaplain participation, consistent with the tenets of his or her religious organization, a chaplain may officiate a same-sex, civil marriage: if it is conducted in accordance with the laws of the state which permits same-sex marriages or union; and if the chaplain is, according to applicable state and local laws, otherwise fully certified to officiate that state’s marriages.”
Navy spokeswoman Alana Garas confirmed the change was ordered, but told CNSNews.com that the document “does not reflect a change in policy, but a change in Tier I training for Navy chaplains that looks forward to when Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is removed”— something which will not happen, she said, until 60 days after the president, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify to Congress that repeal will not harm military readiness.
But Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, is concerned that, in its haste to “hustle-in homosexuality,” the Navy may be violating federal law – the Defense of Marriage Act.
“Offering up federal facilities and federal employees for same-sex marriage violates DOMA, which is still the law of the land and is bound to the duties of our military, including chaplains,” Steve Taylor, communications director for Akin, told CNSNews.com.
“The administration and various states may be operating as if DOMA doesn't exist, but the Navy and Marine Corps and all the Armed Services are sworn to obey the law, which this new instruction violates,” he added.
Tom McLusky, vice president of government relations at the Family Research Council, agreed that the Navy is totally ignoring DOMA, part of which defines marriage for federal government purposes as being between one man and one woman.
“You’re talking about government facilities and government employees, so it would seem to be a direct violation of DOMA,” McClusky told CNSNews.com. “I’m not seeing a lot of wiggle room there.”
He said conservatives had warned months ago that the push to repeal the military ban on homosexuality would lead to efforts to introduce same-sex marriage -- but were dismissed at the time.
“This is what we thought was going to happen, and unfortunately now its happening,” McClusky said.
“Unfortunately, the military is getting out in front on this issue and when you have a president who doesn’t believe the Defense of Marriage Act is a law he needs to follow, it’s no surprise that the military would follow his lead,” he added. “The president may think he’s above the law, but he’s not. If he has a problem with the Defense of Marriage Act, that’s something that he needs to address legislatively, not just by ignoring it.”
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), said the change in training was a “good example of the type of uncertainty and confusion created in the rush to change the previous policy.”
“Trying to make sense of this issue, for example, is something that should have been thought out beforehand – assuming the administration was even serious about doing this efficiently, fairly and respectfully,” Hunter’s communications director Joe Kasper told CNSNews.com.
Hunter plans on offering an amendment to the annual defense bill to require that all of the chiefs of the armed services – not just the chairman -- would have to submit certification that removing the military ban on homosexuality wouldn’t harm unit cohesion and military order.
Four states plus the District of Columbia currently issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples – Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Maryland, New York and Rhode Island recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Kicked in the stomach again.
It ALL makes sense now!
Atheists Seek Chaplain Role in the Military!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/us/27atheists.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=r
I turn 60 next Jan and have been an E9 since 91, so I won’t think twice about retirement. Over half of my career will be as staff SGM and I have had a lot of good troops to lead. They are just as pissed about this as I am and will probably leave early.
They are forcing justices of the peace in Canada to marry homosexuals or face dismissal. It will come to the US. Count on it.
the FDRQ strike again...
That’s because the majority of Pubbies in Congress are right-wing Leftists. And a Leftist by any other name is is still a Leftist.
Ping.
This is the work of Obama and his Oz monkey Gaytes. There is no shame in the shameless.
Chaplains will left to honor God and resign on biblical principles, or serve Dog Obama and stay.
The Lord is watching.
will left=will be left
Chaplains should argue their conscience before God and refuse to perform that which is perverse before our Lord.
Revelation 3:15-18 (New King James Version)
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
Next the queer couples will be stationed aboard the same ship and demand matrimonial bunks to accommodate their need for conjugal accord.
I agree. Unfortunately, how many of us are doing just that. Letting our society become "de-Christianized"?
Our children are being stripped of their faith. But what are we doing about it? Sure, we might take our kids out of the public schools and either send them to private school or homeschool them, but what about the other 90+% of kids who are having their souls desecrated by the beast?
How many of us even get involved in local politics -- at the school board level, the city council level, or even the state legislature level?
We are really good (probably) at living our own lives in an upright fashion, but what are we doing to take it to the streets...
See my tag line.
And I highly doubt any will want to marry same sex couples. But they can if they want.
Good luck to you in the future - we are a 30 yr Navy family with two USNA grads - and know a few of the “big shots” running the Nav these days - totally ashamed of them and the way they have rolled for this CinC. SOOOO glad to be out...! Cheers!
Thanks. I must admit the top brass in all branches of the military have been an embarrassment lately.
Amen to that - what’ll be tough in the future is when we go to Nav reunions and such, it’ll be VERY hard to keep my big mouth shut and not tell these brass people we know what I think of their “leadership”...including Mullen who considers himself a “good Catholic”...grrrr.
I’ll probably refuse to attend any social events sponsored by the military after retirement. I live in an area that has a lot of retired military, but they are all old school. We have our own little events that involve BBQ, beer and a bunch of BS slinging.
Don't laugh.
Leni
“...We are really good (probably) at living our own lives in an upright fashion, but what are we doing to take it to the streets...”
I’ve learned long ago that I can only control so much of what happens around me. I try to influence things where I can, and I make it a point to bring others into the personal sphere of influence as much as possible. I take people who have never shot before, and teach them, and help them get their carry licenses and firearms - all little things that add up. Start with your neighbors. Work out from there.
We take back what we can, individually, wherever we can. The “other 90%” might be beyond our control, but the “10%” that we CAN do something about, we should, and do.
What was that old quote - ““I am only one, but I AM one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.”
If you think about it, there’s a whole lot you can do, good brother.
We’re only as powerless as we want to be. You do what you can, where you can, and leave the rest to God.
Love the BS slinging - sounds like fun. We get together with to different years of USNA grads and the BS is thigh high! Truly sad especially now that they have sold the Nav down the river...
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