Boot camp officials stand by decision to bar some religious services

Navy Times — Thu, 07 May 2015 10:19:21 -0400

From: Navy Times

Despite pressure from both sides of the religious divide, Navy boot camp officials are standing firm on their decision to bar more than a half dozen civilian volunteer religious leaders from conducting services on the base.

In late April, Capt. Douglas Pfeifle, head of Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Ill., ordered the volunteers, who represent a cross section of minority religious faiths, to stop conducting services on base. He also ordered that the recruits be given time and materials to worship on their own.

That provoked an immediate reaction from Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who lodged a complaint on behalf of one the volunteers, a practicing Druid, and gave Pfeifle 24 hours to reverse himself.

That didn't happen. But it produced some mighty strange bedfellows.

Weinstein joined forces with Ron Crews, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, who is frequently at loggerheads with Weinstein over MRFF's very public opposition to Christian influences in the military.

They put out a joint statement calling for the reinstatement of the volunteer religious leaders at boot camp.

"We have testified before the same congressional panels. We have spoken out on the same incidents in the services. And, we are always on opposing sides," they wrote, "but in this instance it is easy for us both to say that the Navy went too far and is clearly in violation of the constitutional religious liberty rights of American sailors at the Recruit Training Command."

In an April 30 letter to Weinstein, however, Pfeifle stated that the policy is staying put. In fact, he said, the policy has been well-received.

"Since our realignment, my command staff has received only positive feedback from the recruits," Pfeifle wrote. "Not one recruit has complained or filed a request."

The change of policy, which took effect in April, upset at least some of the volunteers who were leading Sunday services during holiday routine. John Chantry, the Druid volunteer, said he led earth-centered services for as many as 200 recruits each week.

But base officials said that, per the Navy's instruction, services should be conducted by a uniformed chaplain. If no chaplain is available, then an accredited military member should conduct the services, followed by a contracted chaplain or — if no one else can do it — civilian volunteers.

Recruits who practice minority religions will still be provided with time and materials during holiday routine to worship as they see fit. If recruits request a spiritual leader, the Navy will follow the guidance for identifying a suitable candidate, the official said.

In addition to Druids, Unitarian Universalist, Buddhist, Baha'i, Church of Christ, Christian Science and non-liturgical Protestant recruits were left without clergy at boot camp.

Last Tuesday, the attorney for MRFF sent a letter to Pfeifle claiming the group was violating recruits' constitutional rights.

Specifically, attorney Robert Eye said, Pfeifle's order violates the First Amendment's prohibition of establishing religious "winners and losers," in which one religion is given preference over another.

"Discrimination on the basis of religion should not be tolerated in the U.S. Navy," the letter reads. "But discrimination is what the subject order sanctions."

Crews said in the statement that Pfeifle went too far.

"Religious liberty is guaranteed to all, whether you are Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Druid, or any other small group faith," Crews said. "If the freedom to worship and live your faith is not available to one service member, it's not available to any. We sincerely hope that the command will reread the Navy regulation and reverse course on this dangerous and unconstitutional decision."

Weinsteing said he will continue to press the issue.

"This isn't about civil privileges," he wrote. "It's about civil rights. ...

"We will not rest until the Navy reinstates religious services for the approximately 250 earth-based worshippers impacted by this misguided decision."

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/05/06/mikey-weinstein-ron-crews-boot-camp-druid-some-religious-services-denied/70905518/

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made May 7 at 2015 10:29 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Thu, 07 May 2015 10:29:21 -0400

There are too many religious paths for the Military to cater to all of them. It is boot camp, not summer camp. There are major "high" holidays within every faith. In some it is a seasonal change, in some it is the birth/ resurrection, in some it is a fast. Those times, are a special circumstance in which allowances should be made. Beyond that, they really should remove ALL regular formal worship services from Boot Camp.

When I was at Great Lakes, we had Sunday Afternoons as semi down time. If we wanted to attend church services, we could. If we wanted to write letters home we could. It was a personal choice.

The other caveat to this is a recruit who is struggling with the process. Bringing in a religious volunteer who can speak to that recruit with the context of that recruits beliefs, would be beneficial to the recruit and to the Navy as a whole.

Response by SGT Curtis Earl made May 7 at 2015 10:33 AM

SGT Curtis Earl — Thu, 07 May 2015 10:33:41 -0400

it doesn't say why the decision was made. Maybe there's a valid reason.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 7 at 2015 10:35 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 07 May 2015 10:35:25 -0400

It's all or nothing to me, as long as the religion itself doesn't pose a threat to the mission, I say why not?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 7 at 2015 11:14 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:14:30 -0400

The reason is surely resources vs. fringe demographics. It's time, people, and money to deal with any fringe demographic regardless of the topic. It's why the Commissary doesn't have everything and there aren't formal stickball courts everywhere. The taxpayer shouldn't be spending an inordinate amount of money just so everyone can do their own thing.

There is also the question of time duration. Eight weeks. So the question would be what damage is being done? There will likely be a de minimis argument. The plaintiffs will argue that taking one atom away is unconstitutional.

It will be interesting to see the case result. All the First Amendment arguments aside, the liberal courts tend to rule based more on their perception of "Social Justice" vs. what the Constitution's authors intended at the time. That's the legislating from the bench saw you hear on a regular news cycle basis.

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 8 at 2015 3:30 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 08 May 2015 03:30:35 -0400

Of course command staff have received nothing but positive feedback from recruits. They're too scared to speak out!

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made May 8 at 2015 5:38 PM

PO1 Donald Hammond — Fri, 08 May 2015 17:38:44 -0400

Easiest solution. No religious services at all. I am religious nowdays but my faith is not so weak as to be damaged by not attending a church service for 8 or 9 weeks.

How about just letting the recruits have an hour or so on Sunday to gather in groups in the barracks as they see fit for whatever they do in their religion? (Okay okay. No sacrificing virgin boots)

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 9 at 2015 2:54 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 09 May 2015 14:54:54 -0400

Sorry to hear this but I suspect it is strictly a Fiscal and Logistical decision and I understand.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 8:39 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 20:39:54 -0400

I spent my holiday routine working in the chapel during boot camp. What I saw for many was honest devotion, others went just to get out of the barracks and away from rdcs for a while, and others used that time to attend different services each week and learn about the them. As boot camp went on the number of svms that attended from my division grew bc everyone was so worried about giving up the only time they had to themselves to write letters and such or worried about getting in trouble. I can't say I agree with it but they certainly can't have services for every single faith especially since a few use different sabbaths but I don't understand if it is volunteer how this would be a money issue.

Response by PO1 Seth Crotser made May 11 at 2015 8:46 AM

PO1 Seth Crotser — Mon, 11 May 2015 08:46:12 -0400

Well I can tell you that on a ship, which is where most of these sailors will go, all of the religious services are not provided.

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 8:54 AM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 May 2015 08:54:10 -0400

So easy for many to leave comments on here when their particular faith is recognized by the majority and has the ability to practice. I say limit the big three and see what happens then. You stop having catholic, Jewish and Muslim services and see the uproar. If that would piss you off then maybe you can picture how the servicemen and women feel who can't congregate and practice theirs feel. Yes. On a ship they can't cater to all, as they can't downrange. However, if they are a place they can, then they should.

Response by PO3 Glenn Adair made Jul 15 at 2015 6:02 AM

PO3 Glenn Adair — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 06:02:44 -0400

I was required to attend a church service at least one time during boot camp in 1990. I felt this in the wrong but I had no place to voice my opinion during that time. I would be considered "rocking the boat."

Response by PO3 Sandra Gomke made Jul 14 at 2016 10:21 AM

PO3 Sandra Gomke — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 10:21:30 -0400

One of the purposes of boot camp, any branch, is to learn discipline and prepare for combat situations. Since odds are good (lately) that the person shooting at you doesn't care what religion you are, religious affiliations do not come into the equation. As was stated earlier, I think all religious services can wait until after boot camp, when you are on your own time. If you want, and you have the time in boot camp, read your bible or other literature. When you're on your time. The rest of the time, you belong to the military and not the other way around. Also, some religions do not condone the harming of other beings. Why are these persons in the military?