c. 2006 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ A military jury recommended Thursday (Sept. 14) that a Navy chaplain be reprimanded and potentially fined for disobeying an order after he appeared in front of the White House in March to protest Navy policies regarding prayer.

Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt, a chaplain from the Evangelical Episcopal Church, was convicted Wednesday at a special court-martial in Norfolk, Va.

In addition to a letter of reprimand, the jury also recommended that Klingenschmitt receive a “suspended” fine of $250 per month for a year. It will be up to an admiral to determine whether he actually has to pay the fine or receive the reprimand.

“I respect the decision of my peers on the jury,” Klingenschmitt said Thursday. “I do not respect the decision of the Navy judge who ruled that worshipping in public is not the same as public worship.”

Klingenschmitt had tried to get the charges against him dismissed. Superiors had ordered the chaplain to limit his public activities in uniform to “bona fide religious service or observance.” On Aug. 31, Commander Lewis Booker Jr., the military judge handling the case, upheld that order.

Booker disagreed with Klingenschmitt’s interpretation of Navy regulations differentiating prayers in a worship service and prayers uttered in a public place outside of worship.

Klingenschmitt said he intends to appeal the decision.

Klingenschmitt’s case arose after the Navy issued new rules in February saying chaplains have the right to conduct worship services “according to the manner and forms” of their religious organizations, but are encouraged to use inclusive prayers outside worship settings.

In front of the White House on March 30, Klingenschmitt wore his uniform with a clerical stole around his neck and closed a prayer “in Jesus’ name.” Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who attended Klingenschimitt’s trial, also participated in the March 30 appearance before reporters.

The conviction was welcomed by Mikey Weinstein, an Air Force veteran in Albuquerque, N.M., who is promoting efforts to protect the religious freedom of military members.

“The ruling has brought us one step closer to ensuring that the constitutional guarantee of the separation of church and state is upheld within our nation’s armed forces,” said Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, in a statement.

Navy officials familiar with the case were not immediately available for comment.

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Editors: To obtain file photos of Klingenschmitt, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.