Pastors sue Navy for discrimination

Pastors sue Navy for discrimination
65 chaplains claim they were passed over for promotions
Posted: February 6, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Even though his hunger strike is over, the fight goes on for Navy Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt.

The Episcopal chaplain says his battle to say prayers in Jesus' name has cost him any chance for a promotion, and he's now joining an effort to allow chaplains in the military to pray according to their own traditions, instead of abiding by generic, pluralistic texts.

The Toledo Blade reports more than 65 ministers have signed on to a class-action lawsuit alleging religious discrimination by the Navy. The chaplains claim they have been passed over for promotions because their faith practices have not conformed to the Navy's pluralism policies.

"This is the result of the political correctness movement," Klingenschmitt told the paper. "My commanding officer told the Navy board to end my career, saying I overemphasized my own faith system in sermons and prayers. They also punished me, in writing, for quoting the Bible in chapel."

In the wake of publicity over Klingenschmitt's case, 75 members of Congress, led by Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., have requested President Bush sign an executive order granting chaplains in the armed forces permission to pray according to their beliefs.