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UPDATE: Dec 2, 9:18 a.m.: Sandhya Somashekhar reported Thursday that among the findings in the Pentagon's study of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, is widespread concern within the chaplain corps that permitting gays to serve openly may infringe upon the freedom of religious leaders to express their disapproval of homosexuality. Who will win when gay rights and religious freedom collide?
One example of those conflicting rights, articulated by Terry Mattingly at GetReligion.org is here: "What if a traditional Catholic priest hears the confession of a Catholic soldier -- gay or straight -- who is in a sexual relationship that violates the Church's teachings and tells this believer that he or she must repent? Does the soldier have the right to protest, saying that the chaplain has declined to show proper care and respect?"
What do you think?
On Faith's question on DADT and our panel's response is below:
Despite public and military support for overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the legislation which bans openly gay service members, political, military and religious leaders cite a variety of objections to changing the law.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) worries that allowing gays to serve openly would impact troop "morale;" Marine Corp Commandant Gen. James Amos says that a policy change may affect "unit cohesion" and "combat effectiveness." Among the religious leaders opposed to overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell is Catholic Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy J. Broglio, who fears that chaplains would be forced to compromise their principles in accepting "objectively disordered" homosexuality, adding that he "can never condone -even silently -homosexual behavior."
What beliefs are behind banning gays in the military? What's the role of religion in this debate?
Religion and prejudice
Religion should help people understand that God is about love, respect, understanding and acceptance and not about judging, banishing, destroying, or discarding.
Avoid the allure of selective highlighting of texts
Homosexuality is not a religious issue.
Spiritual power in war
The good news is that when DADT is repealed, LGBTQI chaplains can openly serve in the military and provide the spiritual encouragement and pastoral care that warriors need
Do ask, do tell
When considering what role religion plays in the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" debate, the first thing to say - and this cannot be said loudly enough - is that there is NO single religious view.
Nothing holy about homophobia
There is nothing good about the Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) policy. Its underlying premise is that homosexuality is so hurtful to the feelings of bigoted soldiers that repealing it will compel them to drop their weapons, experience physical and emotional breakdowns, and lead our military inexorably into a downward spiral of lost morale, in ways that benefit our enemies.
Cowardice and hypocrisy surround DADT
Why shouldn't men and women, who love this country so much that they are willing to fight for it, even though much of this country treats them so poorly? If there is a place where religion enters the debate, it is right here.
DADT: the 'separate but equal' of our time
It's time to out Don't Ask Don't Tell: it's nothing more than the Separate but Equal of our time. Both policies - ill-conceived and ill-fated - were designed to present elegant solutions to intractable problems, but in fact only perpetuated those problems. The reason that Separate but Equal failed is the same reason that Don't Ask Don't Tell must be repealed: they are both politically unsound and morally bankrupt.
What is the role of conscience?
The broader question is whether we as a society will choose to be gracious, open-hearted, respectful of those whose views differ from our own--or use the blunt instrument of legislative power to crush conscience.
DADT: the military's decision
As long as current military leaders disagree about DADT, Congress should not interfere
We are losing good people who are eager to serve
The repeal of DADT is more than just allowing LGBT service members to serve openly. It's an opportunity for the entire military community to get to know some of their own as who they truly are.
The problem is obvious
Terms like "unit cohesion" or "combat effectiveness" are thrown around by those who are now afraid to give voice to their true feelings, that homosexuality is "objectively disordered."
"Morale" and "unit cohesion" are real questions
Moving away from "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to the full inclusion of gay and lesbian service people is a big move, especially for what is a typically slow-moving and conservative institution like the Unites States Armed Forces.
Opposition to DADT is all about religion
Enough with the euphemisms, please! Opposition to dismantling "don't ask, don't tell" is all about fundamentalist, homophobic, Bible verse "cherry picking."
It's DADT that's immoral - not homosexuality
I have gay friends who are serving in the military right now. The ones who have partners can't talk about them, can't have their photos with them when they are fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan, can't list their partners as "next of kin" if the worst happens, won't be able to provide for their partner's futures.
Politicians need to be on the right side of history
As leaders of society, it does not reflect well on them that they need to be repeatedly forced to show our fellow citizens some basic respect and dignity.
Chaplain's role is to teach the faith
If we institute policies which are going to openly condone homosexual activity, let's not be surprised or complain when chaplains do their job.
Congress: Don't be a bully, repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
We can hardly expect young people to stop bullying their LGBT peers when many of the adults in Congress won't stop a systematic practice that shames and alienates LGBT service members. This is what is wrong with bullying and with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from a theological perspective. No one should be made to feel ashamed of who God created them to be.
Gay and straight--a black and white issue
Racists and homophobes may serve in the military, but they must put aside their prejudices when working as a unit. If they can't accept that their gay and lesbian comrades deserve equal rights and respect, then they are not fit to remain in the service.
The real policy is "Don't Talk About It"
Does religion help or hinder their bid for equality? Faiths like Islam and Catholicism, insofar as they believe that God has named what is sinful and what is not, will remain out of step with the modern world, and with enlightened humanity in general.
It is time for sacred impatience
. My own deeply ingrained prejudices -- reinforced by culture, upbringing and religious teachings -- were very difficult to overcome. However, particularly in this place at this time, the notion that such prejudices should be institutionalized by our government of equal rights ought to offend.
