Ambiguity causes concern for freedoms of military chaplains after repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

The repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy takes effect this month. Leaving to one side the debate about the policy itself, there are significant concerns for the U.S. military's chaplaincy corps in the post-repeal era unless specific, robust protections for the chaplains' religious liberty and free speech rights are explicitly adopted.

What are the potential problems for military chaplains after DADT's repeal?

Suppose a soldier, sailor or Marine tells a chaplain that he is gay, and the chaplain, due to his religious belief, responds that homosexual behavior is a sin. Would that chaplain be subject to a sexual orientation discrimination charge, which could end his career? Must chaplains allow openly gay servicemen in lay leadership positions? Are chaplains free to preach against homosexual behavior or criticize the repeal of DADT? Will chaplains be banned from teaching classes on ethics and leadership on military bases and schools if they have moral objections to homosexual behavior? In military programs where couples receive counseling on how to strengthen their marriage, can chaplains decline to counsel same-sex couples if they are morally opposed to same-sex marriage?

A group of veteran chaplains of various denominations wrote Congress last month to advocate protections for chaplains. They fear that, after repeal, chaplains from faiths morally opposed to homosexual behavior will be "marginalized and even punished" for being true to their faith. They cite the Pentagon's admission that the military's existing religious liberty protections are not clear. It is uncertain, in the absence of specific guidelines, how local military commanders will deal with this new genre of sexual orientation complaints. Without guidelines, decisions will be inconsistent and perhaps arbitrary.

The military's official position is that the DADT repeal will leave chaplains' activities essentially unchanged.

"Chaplains will continue to have freedom to practice their religion according to the tenets of their faith. Chaplains are not required to take actions that are inconsistent with their religious counseling ... or modifying forms of prayer or worship." While that sounds reassuring, we're already hearing other voices saying that if chaplains can't reconcile themselves with the new policy, they should quit — get in line or get out. Chaplains may well reach the same conclusion unless specific protections are adopted that give real substance to these official assurances.