At a Capitol Hill press conference Wednesday, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) decried restrictions on military chaplains across all services and asked President Bush to pass an executive order protecting their rights. Jones claims that Christian military chaplains are being told to use general terms when they pray and to avoid mention of Jesus. Jones read from letters written by chaplains saying they were told it is against policy to publicly pray to Jesus. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) said the problem is more “widespread and not only limited to the Air Force.” The Air Force issued a set of proposed religious guidelines earlier this year after an investigation into proselytizing at the Air Force Academy.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
