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The stage is being set so that military Chaplains can and most likely will be ordered to perform same sex marriage in contradiction to their religious beliefs. WASHINGTON, May 22, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Democrat House leaders including Nancy Pelosi have opposed a measure to ensure military chaplains are not forced to perform same-sex “marriages,” arguing that it is based on a “manufactured crisis” and therefore unnecessary - a response strongly criticized by chaplain advocates. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday echoed sentiments issued by the Obama White House regarding the conscience language, part of a defense spending bill, saying...

Everyone should know what the Obama Administration is doing to Catholics this time. I received my most recent copy of the magazine/bulletin of the Archdiocese for Military Services called Salute (that link will bring up a pdf of the article I am going to talk about).In the March issue there is a by John L. Schlagter, the General Counsel for the Military Archdiocese, called “Update on AMS protecting Chaplains’ religious freedoms“.First, the Obama Administration censored Catholics in the military. Now, one of Pres. Obama unelected underlings, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, has by his master’s fiat,...

Professionals serving in the armed forces enjoy a unique relationship with the military. Although they’re commissioned officers, they aren’t generally thought of as warriors in the true sense. They instead serve their military brethren in their professional capacity. That being the case, their activities are primarily bound and dictated by the practices and standards of their profession. For example, a Marine JAG officer adheres to his legal Code of Ethics, whereas an Army physician is expected to conform to his Hippocratic Oath. Likewise, a Navy Catholic chaplain would be expected to conduct himself according to his own religious doctrine in...

Constitution: The Air Force removes a reference to God from its logo as the Army forbids Catholic chaplains from reading an archbishop's letter to those in uniform. What's next, the crosses at Arlington National Cemetery? 'It is a blow to a freedom that you have fought to defend and for which you have seen your buddies fall in battle," read the letter from Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services to the Catholic chaplains in the U.S. military. The letter that the Army's Office of the Chief of Chaplains kept from being read to...

Military Chaplains are being forbidden from reading the letter from the bishops protesting the HHS mandate. If they do, they are considered seditious. ht Gateway. The emerging conflict between the Catholic Church and the Obama administration may have a new front: in the U.S. military itself. The Catholic Church is fighting mad about an HHS ruling that would have them buy insurance for things they consider sinful–contraception, sterilization and abortion. All the bishops in the country sent out a letter to be read in their parishes promising that the Church “cannot-and will not-comply with this unjust law.” Even Archbishop Timothy...

Military chaplains could decline to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies under a measure approved this week by the Senate. The amendment, proposed by Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., was added Wednesday to the massive, must-pass defense spending bill. The Senate approved the spending bill Thursday night by a vote of 93-7.

Uncle Sam attracts more military chaplains By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services is reporting an increase in the number of seminarians who want to become military chaplains. For the 2011-12 academic year, there are 31 co-sponsored and military-affiliated seminarians. Last year there were 23; in 2009-10 there were 12 and the previous year only three. In the Arlington Diocese, five seminarians are co-sponsored by the military archdiocese, including Jason Burchell, third theology; Jim Hinkle, second theology; Chris Christensen, second theology; Steven Walker, second theology; and Thomas Gallagher, first theology. Father Luke Dundon, who...

The Pentagon will permit military chaplains to perform same-sex marriage as long as such ceremonies are not prohibited in the states where they reside, it said Friday. Defense Department guidance issued to military chaplains said they may participate in ceremonies on or off military bases in states that recognize gay unions. Chaplains are not required to officiate at same-sex weddings if doing so is counter to their religious or personal beliefs, the guidance said. And regardless of the Pentagon guidance, military chaplains will still need to take cues from their religious order, said Gary Pollitt, spokesman for the Military Chaplains...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon has decided that military chaplains may perform same-sex unions, whether on or off a military installation. The ruling announced Friday by the Pentagon's personnel chief follows the Sept. 20 repeal of a law that had prohibited gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

Terror mastermind and senior Al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki is dead a senior U.S. official confirms. Al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born Islamic militant cleric who became a prominent figure in Al-Qaeda's most active branch, using his fluent English and Internet savvy to draw recruits to carry out attacks in the United States, was killed Friday in the mountains of Yemen, American and Yemeni officials said. excerpt - Yemeni security officials and local tribal leaders said al-Awlaki was killed in an air strike on his convoy that they believed was carried out by the Americans. They said pilotless drones had been seen over the...

WASHINGTON (BP) -- The attorney for 65 chaplains -- including 16 Southern Baptists -- who claim the U.S. Navy discriminates against evangelicals believes a new statistical analysis buttresses their legal efforts, which have been in court for 12 years. Virginia attorney Arthur Schulcz says the statistical analysis shows that past promotion boards awarded favorable treatment to members from the Naval chief of chaplains' denomination, regardless of who holds the office. His clients are objecting to the chief of chaplains or his deputy sitting as president of Chaplain Corps promotion boards, which select candidates for lieutenant commander, commander, captain and rear...

The military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy,” will be no more as of Sept. 20, when homosexual men and women will be allowed to serve openly in all branches of the U.S. armed forces. But a number of military chaplains fear an unofficial version of the policy will take its place, one that muzzles and marginalizes chaplains who hold strict biblical beliefs about homosexuality. "We've already seen that a chaplain had an assignment pulled because he was critical of the repeal of DADT," says retired Col. Ron Crews, a former U.S. Army chaplain. Crews, along with several other chaplain endorsers...

In a "Letter to the Church" released Monday, July 18, LCMS President Dr. Matthew C. Harrison announced that, beginning in 2012, the Synod will no longer co-sponsor its training conferences for military chaplains with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The decision, which Harrison said was not made lightly, was based on input from the Synod's Ministry to the Armed Forces committee and from active- and reserve-duty LCMS chaplains. It ends a cooperative ministry that began in 1941 between the LCMS and two other Lutheran church bodies at that time -- The American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church...

A man portrayed as a prominent Islamic scholar who has run a program to vet Muslim chaplains for the U.S. military has written an anti-Semitic column that condemns Jews for trying to make the rest of the world "subvervient" and explaining that he is able to see this "trickery" because of his understanding of the Quran, according to a translation. The work is by Taha Jaber al-Alwani, who graduated from al-Azhar University in Cairo and later taught at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University in Saudi Arabia. He moved to the United States in 1983 and has served as chairman of...

Washington (CNSNews.com) - A former combat officer and military chaplain says this Memorial Day leaves him concerned about military chaplains, who currently face the threat of a military that is rushing headlong to introduce homosexuality and same-sex marriage into the armed services -- and an administration that is ignoring the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).“(H)ere we are as a nation, pulling the rug out from under soldiers -- really, is what we’re doing -- and commanders to really defend this nation,” said Bishop John Neal, head of the International Communion of Evangelical Churches.Neal, a retired Army colonel, said the...

Military chaplains are concerned troops could be punished for expressing objections to homosexuality once the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy is lifted. Leaders of 21 religious groups that provide chaplains to the U.S. military on Monday sent a letter to the chiefs of chaplains of the Navy, Army, and Air Force. They want Congress or the Pentagon to guarantee troops won’t be punished if they openly discuss their objections to homosexuality. “This is already an assault and a challenge on individual conscience and some soldiers may think it’s forcing them to abandon their religious beliefs or being marginalized for holding...

(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...

The report in the New York Times that atheists are looking for official recognition as chaplains in the American military in order to cater to the needs of non-believing servicemen is interesting. On the one hand, it’s kind of absurd. Atheist chaplains? It’s a contradiction in terms. What are they going to teach? Non-belief? What services will they offer? Non-prayers and sermons on evolution? And what comfort will they offer dying soldiers, G-d forbid (oops! Even that doesn’t work). Will they say, “Game over. You’re going to a place of complete oblivion. Thank you for your service.”? On the other...

The deputy chief of chaplains of the United States Army told fellow army chaplains on February 17 that “the upcoming end to ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ which will allow openly gay and lesbian individuals to enlist and for soldiers who have hidden their preferences to come out, if they want, means Army chaplains will have a major part in preparing the service to accept the lifestyles of some,” according to an Arizona newspaper’s summary of his remarks. Father Donald Rutherford, a priest of the Diocese of Albany who holds the rank of brigadier general, reportedly added that “you don’t have...

US Politicians Duped By The Brotherhood In the United States, one individual maintained a pretense of "moderation" which would later embarrass the left and the right. According to the testimony of Dr. Michael Waller to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Abdurahman Alamoudi was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. A man born in Eritrea in 1951, he arrived in the US in 1979 and became a naturalized US citizen on May 23, 1996. From 1985 onwards he became involved in many Muslim groups. In 1990 he founded the Washington DC-based American Muslim Council (AMC), which Waller states "has...

This week among military installations and American Legion posts held remembrance ceremonies on anniversary of the deaths of four Chaplains. The immortal chaplains were Father John Washington (Catholic), Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed); Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish) and Rev. George Fox (Methodist) are the best known heroes among the Chaplain Corps. Background Early Morning Feb 3, 1943 off the coast of Greenland the U.S. Army troopship USAT Dorchester was struck by Torpedoes from a German U -Boat. The four chaplains rushed to the deck calming men and passing out life jackets to the men evacuation the ship into life boats....

<p>February 4, 2002 -- Some of the terror thugs being held at Camp X-Ray are having regrets about their actions, a Muslim Navy cleric said yesterday.</p> <p>Lt. Abuhena Saiful-Islam, who meets daily with the 158 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said that while many continue to maintain their innocence, others are having second thoughts.</p>

Guantanamo Detainees Said Plotting Sun Jan 27, 9:08 AM ET By TONY WINTON, Associated Press Writer GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) - Military guards at a detention camp at Guantanamo Bay say they have noticed a command structure emerging among the terrorist suspects being held there, camp leaders said Saturday. The leaders seem to surface during prayer sessions. Photos AP Photo Slideshows AP Photo Camp X-Ray, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Of the evolving leadership structure, Brig. Gen. Mike Lehnert said, "We have indications that many have received training, and that they are observing actions such as security procedures." Lehnert, a ...

In the Pentagon's 300-plus-page report on the proposed repeal of its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, the authors singled out one group whose strong views merited special attention: the chaplains. The report found that 70 percent of service members thought there would be little or no negative impact to military readiness and unit cohesion if the government were to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military. But no group had such strong - or sharply divergent - views as the military's 3,000 chaplains, who provide spiritual guidance to the men and women in uniform. The debate highlights...

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (BP)--At times, Jennifer Mitchell wishes her husband would stay in his office, but the feeling passes when she remembers why her husband, Army Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Mitchell, voluntarily puts himself in harm's way. Deployed to eastern Afghanistan with the 27th Engineer Battalion from Fort Bragg, N.C., Mitchell works among soldiers who locate and neutralize Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), accompanying them during 14- to 20-hour missions in a reinforced Humvee's close quarters rolling along Afghan thoroughfares. "Selfishly I wish he could stay back," Jennifer says. "Their whole mission is to go out looking for stuff that's going to...

hose familiar with the Washington Post know that the paper is a staunch defender of a very liberal vision of the separation of church and state. For example, the paper's editorial board was heavily critical of the Supreme Court's Mojave cross ruling. But when it comes to the supposed dearth of Muslim chaplains at Virginia prisons, Sunday's Metro section went into full hand-wringing mode. "Inadequate Funds for Chaplains," complained a subheader for the page B1 story by staffer Kevin Sieff. "In Va., most money goes to Protestant clergy," another subheadline for the story "Support limited for Muslims in prison"* lamented....

The archbishop for the U.S. military spoke out for the first time against the effort to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” setting up a possible conflict between Pentagon brass and the 285 Roman Catholic priests who serve on active-duty in the military. “Those with a homosexual orientation can expect respect and treatment worthy of their human dignity,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Catholic overseer for military chaplains, in a statement released late last week. “However, unions between individuals of the same gender resembling marriage will not be accepted or blessed by Catholic chaplains.” Broglio was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI two...

As one who grew up at the height of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West, the astonishingly sudden collapse of the "Evil Empire" in 1991 was mind-boggling. It had been for over 70 years the personification of atheistic hatred for God and persecution of those who believe in Him. Since the implosion of the Soviet Union, the new Russia has been making steady if slow progress back toward God, many Russians have re-embraced Orthodoxy — Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev regularly attend Divine Liturgy, for goodness' sake. And this strengthens the impression I get that the...

LANDSTUHL, Germany, June 26, 2009 – The boxes arrive daily from the United States, 15 to 20 each day, along with $8,000 to $12,000 in cash every week from Americans and U.S. nonprofit groups. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael D. Dubie, the adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, stands in the Wounded Warrior Ministry Center -- nicknamed the "Chaplains' Closet" -- at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, June 17, 2009, during a visit to wounded warriors. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The boxes and the money are meant for the...

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2009 – Active and reserve Army chaplains are playing a critical and strategic role in Iraq, a chaplain serving with Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq said this week. “Our troops are working tirelessly and selflessly to create a trusted and viable security force,” Army Chaplain (Maj.) William Steen said during a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable June 23. “However, the work, family separation and the long hours all take their toll on our troops.” Steen discussed how the military is helping soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines cope with the physical, mental and emotional stress while deployed in Iraq. Chaplains...

Often, for many of our military who died in action, a chaplain was the final person in charge of their soul. In harm’s way, these faithful servants of Christ’s Church don’t just stand beside the men and women in various branches of the service, they wear the uniform. The work of our chaplains extends much farther than the post chapel. They labor on land, at sea and in the air. There are 1.4 million Catholics in the military; wherever they are stationed, the chaplain is there. Their parishes are much different than a local church. Made up of mostly younger...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq, May 19, 2009 – Reinforcements are something every unit loves to have -- more soldiers help to win the fight and save lives at the same time. Army Chaplain (Maj.) Chuck B. Rizer, front right, gets into the action with the brigade staff as he competes in the brigade staff Olympics at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, Feb. 27, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Stephen C. Short  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The duty of being a soldier can be difficult at times, and no matter how many extra soldiers arrive to...

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., April 24, 2009 – The night sky looked calm and tranquil from a gently soaring aircraft, miles above the Eastern Seaboard towns below. However, there was nothing tranquil or calm in the hearts of one family on board, traveling to Dover Air Force Base to witness the dignified transfer of their son’s remains. Air Force Chaplain (retired Lt. Col.) David Sparks counsels a fellow Port Mortuary team member at Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs at Dover Air Force Base, Del., April 21, 2009. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUNTER, Iraq, March 11, 2009 – Two Army chaplains are building much more than the faith of their soldiers on this remote base near the southeastern border of Iraq. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Colt Randles cuts a wooden block for a new door handle for the Solid Rock Chapel at Forward Operating Base Hunter, Iraq, March 5, 2009. Randles and Army Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Roberts are working together to put the finishing touches on the chapel. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Creighton Holub  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Chaplain (Capt.) Colt Randles and Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Roberts...

Just after midnight on Feb. 3, 1943, an act of extraordinary unselfishness by a group of men became a legend of martyrdom and sacrifice. When the Army ship Dorchester was torpedoed by the Germans just south of Greenland that night, its passengers and crew had 25 minutes to get off the boat. As 902 people went for the life jackets, it quickly was discovered there weren't near enough. Of the 13 lifeboats, only two functioned. In the ship's final minutes, Methodist senior chaplain George Lansing Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Dutch Reformed minister Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington, a...

Jeffrey Imm writes in with an AP report about the January 21 Inaugural prayer service to take place at the National Cathedral in Washington. Among those officiating will be Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). This is an outrage and should be stopped. What's ISNA? As I have written (here, for instance), the US government has identified ISNA as a Muslim Brotherhood front organization. Actually, the Muslim Brotherhood itself has identified ISNA as a Muslim Brotherhood front organization. And the Muslim Brotherhood is all about extending Islamic law globally--even in America. According to its 1991...

Excerpt..... A new policy banning Virginia State Police chaplains from saying Jesus,’ Christ’ during prayer is stirring up a lot of controversy. Six chaplains have already resigned over the issue. “In the bible it says to pray in Jesus name,” said Charlotte Ryan, Johnson City, Tennessee resident. Claude Duncan from Johnson City is also against the prayer policy change. “I think it’s a terrible thing that they would create such a thing that would deny us the privilege of praying in the name of our savor, Jesus Christ,” Duncan said. We found strong opposition on Monday to a decision.........

Army chaplain who had served in Kuwait dies at Walter Reed Chaplain (Col.) Sidney J. Marceaux An Army chaplain who ministered to troops for decades died earlier this month after being medically evacuated from Kuwait to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Pentagon announced late Tuesday. Chaplain (Col.) Sidney J. Marceaux, a Catholic priest, died Sept. 14 at Walter Reed "from a noncombat related illness," according to a news release. He had been serving at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, before being transferred to the Warrior Transition Brigade at Walter Reed, officials said. A memorial service was held Wednesday in Kuwait, a...

Speaker wants to rebuild wall separating church and state in military By Karen Nolan Article Launched: 04/05/2008 07:33:35 AM PDT What do the U.S. military and Christianity have in common? Nothing, if Mikey Weinstein has his way. Weinstein is the founder of Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to resurrect what he believes is the crumbling wall between church and state in the military. Specifically, Weinstein believes that a minority Christian viewpoint - one that seeks to turn the military into a Christian force - is infiltrating the ranks at all levels. If they succeed, he says,...

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -- It's the end of lunchtime at the Afghan National Army base of Pol-i-charkhi and, as the mess hall reverberates with the dish-clatter and chair-scraping of soldiers in dark camouflage dispersing, two men linger behind, still digging with spoons into a shared dish of rice and lamb. US Navy Capt. James Fisher is the guest of Afghan Col. Moheb Moheburahman. The American is fair skinned, every inch of his face and scalp clean-shaven, and with ready smile and can-do attitude, he looks downright sunny. The Afghan has an olive complexion and a full black beard flecked with gray....

They dodge bullets and wrestle with the shadier underbelly of society, but the hardest part of a sheriff's deputy's job is telling someone their family member has died. Bishop Robert Green makes that process easier. As a Contra Costa Sheriff's Office volunteer chaplain, Green is one of a few dozen chaplains who make that dreaded knock on the door. Wearing his sheriff's- issued jacket with the word "Chaplain" on the back in large letters, Green is not only charged with helping deputies with the weighty task of delivering the news, he also acts as a counselor for families to ease...

Chaplain sentenced after harassing mistress By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Saturday, September 22, 2007 CAMP ZAMA, Japan — A married Army chaplain who was involved in an affair with an Arizona woman pleaded guilty Thursday to adultery, unbecoming conduct and four counts of cyberstalking at his court-martial. Capt. Mike Myers was sentenced to six months in prison after entering his plea in the courtroom of this Army post near Tokyo. The former chaplain for the 441st Military Intelligence Battalion, 500th Military Intelligence Brigade also will be dismissed from the Army and receive a reprimand stemming from his...

JWB Jewish Chaplains Council Support our U.S. men and women serving in the armed forces at home and overseas. Contributions help us send holiday packages, prayer books and other vital support to our troops. A vital component of JCC Association, JWB Jewish Chaplains Council is a U.S. government-accredited agency serving the religious, social and morale needs of Jewish military personnel, their families, and patients in VA hospitals.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2007 – U.S. military chaplains serving in Afghanistan want troops who have been extended to know support is there for them. “Hang in there; we’re right with you,� is what chaplains want recently extended soldiers to know, a senior chaplain here said.   About 3,200 soldiers of 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, learned yesterday that they will be extended in Afghanistan until June, about 120 days past their scheduled redeployment date.   “Chaplains are uniquely and sympathetically aware of what these soldiers and their families are going through right now,� said Chaplain (Lt....

By Pfc. Susan Blair2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Div. PAO Chaplain's assistant, Spc. Spencer Sprinkman, Task Force 1-73, takes a protective stance in front of Chaplain (Capt.) Brian Koyn, while practicing battle drills before their next mission. NORTHERN IRAQ -- Batman and Robin, Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo, Timon and Pumba, and Starsky and Hutch; these are all famous duos, and they all depended on each other to complete their mission. The Task Force 1-73 Chaplain and his assistant also depend on each other. The relationship between Chaplain (Capt.) Brian Koyn and Spc. Spencer Sprinkman is extremely important in a combat...

Chief of Chaplains Brings Encouragement and Support Chaplain tours Iraq and Afghanistan bringing support and leadership to the region. By Army Sgt. Victoria Willoughby345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment SALERNO, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2006 -- Army Maj. Gen. David H. Hicks, the Army chief of chaplains, visited Salerno Nov. 28, as part of a tour through Afghanistan and Iraq designed to bring support and encouragement to chaplains, chaplain’s assistants and leaders at the battalion and brigade levels. “My objective is to visit with and put my arms around -- I mean that figuratively -- as many soldiers, leaders and unit...

11/23/2006 - ELY, United Kingdom (AFPN) -- Chaplains from Royal Air Force Mildenhall set up a night of giving thanks at the historical Cathedral of Ely, which was built in 673 A.D. Although Thanksgiving wasn't celebrated until almost 950 years after the cathedral was built, the end of World War II gave the allies common ground to be thankful. "United States Army Air Force flyers often used Ely Cathedral as a landmark when they were returning from missions." said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Moore from RAF Mildenhall. He said this made the cathedral a logical location for the celebration to...

The head chaplain for New York City jails has been suspended while the city investigates claims he made incendiary statements last year in Tucson, including a comment that the "greatest terrorists in the world occupy the White House." The New York Post reported Thursday that Umar Abdul-Jalil made the remarks at a conference sponsored by the Muslim Students Association in Tucson. It said the Investigative Project, a Washington organization that tracks extremist Islamic groups, recorded the speech, in which he also allegedly said that Muslims jailed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were "tortured" in the Manhattan Correctional Center. Abdul-Jalil,...

CHAPLAINS will be posted in schools across Australia under a federal Government plan to provide students with greater spiritual guidance. Prime Minister John Howard will today unveil details of the $90 million national chaplaincy program, which also aims to give support to students during times of grief. The initiative, which was immediately criticised for discriminating in favour of Christians, was approved by Cabinet earlier this month. Today's announcement follows last weekend's fatal car crash near Byron Bay which killed four teenagers from Kadina High School. It also follows the tragic death of a Sydney high school student who was found...

Two major newspapers are blasting conservatives for holding up passage of a defense appropriations bill by attaching a "mischievous," "pro-evangelical" amendment to it, as the New York Times described it. According to an editorial in Thursday's New York Times, "hard-right Republicans have held up passage of the defense bill in an attempt to license zealot chaplains to violate policies of religious tolerance at secular ceremonies." The amendment -- contained in the House bill but not in the Senate bill -- says military chaplains may "pray according to the dictates of the chaplain's own conscience" (i.e., pray in the name of...