ACTION ALERT

Senator Warner is being attacked for standing up for you

Sep. 29 update: Today the bill was passed without the prosyletizing language. Thank you to everyone who called Senator Warner for your help in this accomplishment. Another Congress member who deserves a big thank you is Rep. Steve J. Israel (D-NY) for making an excellent statement during the House debate in support of the language removal. If you are a constituent of New York's 2nd Congressional District, please send thanks to Rep. Israel by e-mail at www.house.gov/israel/contact/ or by phone at (631) 951-2210, (516) 505-1448, or (202) 225-3335.

Sep. 21, 2006 - In an attempt to allow unimpeded proselytizing by military chaplains, Christian nationalists (those who seek to turn our secular government into a Christian nation) are haranguing Senator John Warner (R-VA). They have made personal comments about his own religious beliefs in numerous e-mails seeking inclusion of a House-passed (Senate-stopped) amendment allowing military chaplains to "pray according to their dictates" in a Department of Defense spending bill.

The language of the bill does not limit when or where such prayer may occur. Thus, if the chaplain's religion dictates that s/he must proselytize at all times, such language would allow proselytizing anytime and anywhere with unwilling military personnel. It also clearly contradicts attempts to include a diverse military population in public events by encouraging sectarian invocations.

Senator Warner has suggested that the language be removed and a separate bill be considered in the next Congress. That would allow full testimony on the issues involved. In addition to concerns about freedom of conscience for those who join the military, there are questions regarding the constitutionality of allowing government representatives to endorse a particular religion at military functions.

It is important that the Senator receive thanks and support from around the nation, although only Virginia constituents will receive a response to e-mails.

Below you will find a sample letter regarding this issue.

Take a stand: Contact Senator Warner and let him know that you appreciate his thoughtful approach to this issue:

E-mail Senator Warner through his website
TEL (202) 224-2023
FAX (202) 224-6295.
Postal mail: 225 Russell Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

Below you will find a sample letter regarding this issue. Please feel free to adapt it to your voice, and to add any additional information of importance to you:

Dear Senator Warner:

Thank you for recommending a full hearing in the next Congress regarding attempts to allow sectarian prayer by military chaplains. I am a nontheistic American. I join with many theists who are also opposed to this attempt to allow a clearly unconstitutional endorsement of a chaplain's particular religion by the U.S. government.

I was saddened to hear that those who support the amendment to the Department of Defense spending bill have attacked you, questioning your own sincerely held beliefs. While my own ethics may be derived from a different source than yours, it is telling that some will engage in personal attacks when they are stopped from imposing their particular religion on all military personnel. Thank you for remaining firm in your position that the DoD bill should be passed without the House amendment allowing military proselytizing.

The men and women who serve our nation in the military are diverse in their beliefs. We know that there ARE atheists in foxholes, as well as Jews in foxholes, Hindus in foxholes, and even Christians who do not believe in our government endorsing their religion in foxholes. Thank you for respecting all of us.

Sincerely,
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