As Plain as the No's on Your Faith
First, he ordered churches to violate their conscience. Now, the President is instructing them not to talk about it! Welcome to Barack Obama's military. After stripping away the rights of religious groups everywhere, the commander-in-chief is putting a halt on protests from the pulpit, at least in the Army's chaplain corps. Like most Catholics, the military's priests had planned to speak out against the rule forcing groups to violate the tenets of their faith by funding abortifacients and contraception.
Unfortunately, they never got the chance. While church leaders around the country voiced their disapproval to the mandate on Sunday, the Army's pulpits were silent. According to several sources, the Chief of Chaplains had issued an Army-wide gag order, warning priests not to read any letter resisting the policy. The church "cannot--and will not--comply with this unjust law," wrote Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the corps' priests. According to the Army, that language is too controversial. After a lot of back and forth with the administration, the Chief of Chaplains announced that "a new version of the letter will be read, one that was edited of the language about 'unjust laws.'" Chaplains should consider the text of Acts 5:29 this coming weekend. The administration is fearful of this language because laws have a moral foundation--and in our system of government, they have to have the consent of the governed. That's why the administration is telling churches what they can and can't say.
Not surprisingly, that kind of censorship didn't sit well with Archbishop Broglio. In a statement, the Archdiocese didn't hide its frustration. "[We] stand firm in the belief, based on legal precedent, that such a directive from the Army constituted a violation of his constitutionally-protected right of free speech and the free exercise of religion, as well as those same rights of all military chaplains and their congregants." Of course, this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's followed the seismic shifts in the military. This is exactly the path we expected the Pentagon to take after "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" came crumbling down. For two years, FRC warned about the systematic silencing of people of faith that would result once the President imposed his radical social agenda on the military.
While the military itself is governed by different rules when it comes to free speech, chaplains have always had the right to speak openly about the moral issues of their day. That's why George Washington established the chaplaincy. He understood the importance of teaching soldiers the difference between right and wrong. If Washington wanted an army that was above reproach, he knew the most effective way to accomplish it was providing a moral compass that rules and regulations cannot. Chaplains have been offering that guidance since 1775.
By muzzling these leaders, the Obama administration is diminishing the chaplains' role from spiritual leader to glorified counselor. Obviously, this is all by design. If the President can hollow out our military, then the rest of society won't be far behind. In the war on religion, the administration is enlisting its own Army. Join us in standing with our troops. Sign FRC's petition to Congress, asking members to take action to ensure that America's armed forces are afforded the same freedoms for which they risk their lives.
Komen to Terms with Planned Parenthood
The ink was barely dry on the thank you notes before the Susan G. Komen Foundation took a step back from defunding Planned Parenthood. Earlier in the week, the country's leading breast cancer charity decided to cut ties with the abortion giant and redirect the money to groups that actually perform mammograms. But, as Mark Steyn wrote, "Komen could not be permitted to get away with disrespecting Planned Parenthood." Cecile Richards's organization whipped big liberalism into a frenzy--cyber-bullying, threatening backlash, pulling corporate sponsorships, even putting Komen's speaking opportunities "under review."
Unlike Planned Parenthood, Komen is obviously not used to playing political hardball. And so, after 48 hours of being demonized, it released a statement "apologizing" for a decision so popular that it boosted Komen's fundraising 100% in two days. "We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants." What that means is anyone's guess. While Planned Parenthood is "eligible" for future grants, Komen hasn't guaranteed that it will award them to Richards's group. It's a muddled and conflicting message, designed to appease both sides. But in this situation, that's about as easy as straddling a barbed-wire fence. "The Komen Foundation will not be the last to learn that you can 'race for the cure,' but you can't hide," Steyn wrote. "Celebrate conformity--or else." Their first donations to Planned Parenthood were made of their own accord. "A prudent observer would conclude that the best way to avoid being crowbarred by Cecile Richards is never to get mixed up with her organization in the first place."
In Virginia, Marshalling a Response
While the Obama administration is busy dismantling conscience rights, the Virginia legislature is building a protective fence around theirs. Thanks to Delegate Bob Marshall, the state assembly is moving quickly to pass a bill that would let faith-based adoption agencies deny child placements that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs. The measure sailed through the House 71-28 on Friday, and a Senate committee is sending its version of the bill to the floor, where it's also expected to pass. Last year, the Board of Social Services agreed to these regulations, but this legislation would convert those rules into law--with help from pro-life Gov. Bob McDonnell (R). Let's hope other states follow suit!
** If you missed yesterday's CNN interview, you can catch it in the video below. Also, check out FRC's Jeanne Monahan, who had a busy weekend responding to the President's drug mandate.
*** What the Left has done to Rick Santorum is beyond intolerant. Don't miss Bob Morrison's new column, "Savaging Santorum" to see what the Pennsylvania Senator is up against.
