Muzzling Christian Chaplains

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, August 24, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Blatant persecution of Christians is very evident in the military. Case in point is the current threat to Army Chaplain Scott Squires who is endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board. As such, he upholds SBC policy that says: “Endorsed chaplains will not conduct or attend a wedding ceremony for any same-sex couple, bless such a union or perform counseling in support of such a union, nor offer any kind of relationship training or retreat, on or off a military installation.”

Chaplain Squires’ observance of SBC policy is legally protected by the National Defense Authorization Act which says, “No member of the Armed Forces may require a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual or ceremony that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles or religious beliefs of the chaplain.”

Also, he is legally protected by four paragraphs in Army Regulation (AR) 165-1 which states: “No member of the Armed Forces may discriminate or take any adverse personnel action against a chaplain, including denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment, on the basis of the refusal by the chaplain to comply with a requirement prohibited by paragraph (1)” of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Again, he is legally protected by Department of Defense instructions that include sections of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that prohibit the government from substantially burdening any person’s religious freedom without a compelling government interest.Despite his constitutional right to religious freedom and numerous legal protections, Fort Bragg, North Carolina Army Chaplain Squires was officially accused of discrimination for refusing to conduct a marriage retreat that included same-sex couples, although , in order to accommodate the lesbian couple, he immediately rescheduled the event for another time and for another chaplain to conduct. After the conference was rescheduled with the other chaplain, the two women chose not to attend.

However, the Judge Advocate General (JAG) proceeded with the women’s complaint and on August 1 st an Army major recommended that Chaplain Squires be charged with dereliction of duty and violation of the Army Equal Opportunity Policy. Both charges include prison sentences and discharge from the military. Conviction on either charge would mean loss of his job and possible imprisonment.

When First Liberty Institute Deputy General Counsel Michael Berry represented himself as Chaplain Squires’ attorney, he was not recognized as such and the military defense counsel was directed to “proceed as if” Chaplain Squires had no civilian defense counsel. Obviously, Chaplain Squires is the victim of a deliberate, premeditated, classic, unconstitutional, illegal set-up to deny his right to religious expression, which could impact the freedom of other U.S. citizens! For Georgia Insight , I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.