Continuing to move away from “Dont Ask, Don’t Tell,” CNS News is reporting that the Obama Administration released a policy statement objecting to a House Authorization Bill that would prohibit same sex marriage on military property and shield chaplains from repercussions for refusing to perform those ceremonies.
Section 536 of H.R. 4310 states in part that no member of the armed forces may “direct, order, or require a chaplain to perform any duty, rite, ritual, ceremony, service, or function that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the chaplain, or contrary to the moral principles and religious beliefs of the endorsing faith group of the chaplain.”
Further, 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 direction, order, or requirement” that is prohibited by the previous clause.
Unsurprisingly, the moral principles and religious beliefs of Christians aren’t important to the Obama Administration.
It seems that Obama doesn’t care what you believe but he objects if you wish to practice or act on those beliefs. Freedom of religion goes beyond simply what you choose to believe. It means you can excersize those beliefs without restrictions, reprisals or punishment.