Lawmaker introduces bill to protect servicemembers’ right to speak out against homosexuality

Feb 15, 2012

Lawmaker introduces bill to protect servicemembers’ right to speak out against homosexuality

Although Obama has overturned a Revolutionary War ban on homosexuals serving in the military, one lawmaker wants to make sure service members will still have their rights to be opposed to the “gay” lifestyle.

Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) has introduced the Military Religious Freedom Protection Act which states that “A service member cannot be denied promotion or other training opportunities for any sincerely held beliefs he has about the appropriate or inappropriate expression of human sexuality.”

The bill would also ensure that chaplains cannot be forced to perform or participate in ‘any duty, rite, ritual, ceremony, service or function that is contrary to their own consciences, moral principles, or religious beliefs or those of their faith group” and would prevent military facilities from being used for same-sex ceremonies.

In announcing the law, Huelskamp said, “Fundamental to the core of this nation is the protection of religious liberty.”

He went on to say the act was necessary to ensure that “none of our men and women in uniform – including our chaplain corps – are asked to compromise their religious and spiritual beliefs. It will also protect the freedom of those in the military to express vocally the tenets of their faiths.”

Former Army chaplain, Brig. Gen Douglas Lee, a founding member of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, said the bill is a good bill because it will help guarantee the rights of chaplains to speak out against the sin of homosexuality despite what will undoubtedly be increased pressure to conform to the new regulations.

“The litigation of the homosexual lobby over of the last 20 years shows that they can’t tolerate groups that are against them or would suggest that their decisions are wrong or sinful,” Lee said. “So we expect that there will be challenges to chaplains down the road.”

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