On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a number of amendments to the 2012 Defense Appropriations Bill. The
Daily Caller reports on one amendment, which
passed 236-84, introduced by Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, that bars same-sex marriages being performed on military bases. The amendment provides: "None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement the curriculum of the Chaplain Corps Tier 1 DADT repeal training dated April 11, 2011." From the Congressional Record, here is the explanation of the amendment by Rep. Huelskamp:
Earlier this year, the Navy chief of chaplains announced that military chaplains who desire to perform same-sex marriages would be allowed to do so following the repeal of the policy known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The directive said that chaplains could perform same-sex ceremonies in such States where such marriages and unions are legal. Apparently, the Navy has recently backed away from such instruction, but tepidly and weakly, and in a way that leaves the door open to the reinstatement of this policy.
This amendment I offer will prohibit the enforcement of the directive of allowing chaplains to perform same-sex marriages on Navy bases regardless of whatever a State's law is on gay marriage.
... As the Navy and other military branches prepare for the repeal of this 1993 law, hours upon hours of sensitivity training have been presented to men and women in uniform. Such instruction has included warning that the failure to embrace alternative lifestyles could result in penalties for serv ice mem bers.
What will happen to chaplains who decline to officiate over same-sex ceremonies? The directive states that chaplains ``may'' perform same-sex civil marriage ceremonies. I fear that chaplains who refuse to perform these ceremonies may find themselves under attack and their careers threatened.
Madam Chair, we must ensure the religious liberty of all military members, particularly that of chaplains. In my family, I've had a military chaplain who has served for more than approximately 4 decades, so this is particularly important to me, personally.
(See
prior related posting.) The House on Thursday and Friday also passed two additional amendments to the Defense Appropriation Bill (
1,
2) that appear to achieve the same purpose. They prohibit use of any funds in contravention of the Defense of Marriage Act.
