House Rejects Call to Allow Nonreligious Military Chaplains
Kimberly Winston of Religion News Service reports that an amendment permitting only religious organizations to endorse chaplains passed the House in a 253 to 173 vote. The amendment, sponsored by Republican Representative John C. Fleming of Louisiana, hampers a bid by Humanists to endorse nonreligious military chaplains. Fleming’s spokesman, Doug Sachtleben, said, “The amendment holds the military to its current standards on endorsing agencies, which must be recognized religious and faith-based organizations.”