Christian soldiers no more - Is Obama the new Nero?
FREE Catholic Classes
The Pentagon has confirmed that soldiers who share their faith with others may be court martialed and punished. They have said the cases will be decided individually. The decision could eliminate the position of chaplain in the military.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
5/2/2013 (1 decade ago)
Published in Living Faith
Keywords: Obama, faith, military, Christian, sharing, love, atheists
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - A Pentagon statement confirms that "Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense.Court martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis."
Depending on what is meant by "proselytization" it could be a crime to serve in the military while being Christian.
Atheists to the front?
Imagine being wounded and at the hour of your death, your comrades cannot pray for you because they might be court martialed. It's an amazing turn for a nation that has historically been both Christian and free when.
Yes, it is true that "The United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." or so President John Adams wrote in 1796. However, the First Amendment has always protected the free expression of religion, including for our fighting men and women who avail themselves of spiritual rmor in times of danger. Our presidents and other public figures have prayed, and still do. Our military ranks have been served by chaplains, some earning Medals of Honor for their courage; Christian morality and love have long formed a spiritual and ethical backbone for America.
Christianity, and more broadly, religion, have been inexorably woven into the fabric of American society from the start. It is as impossible to separate the two and still say we have a nation, as it would be to separate out the horizontal threads from the flag and still claim you have a flag.
Will atheists also be punished if they express their beliefs? Alternatively, will the military become entirely atheistic, with chaplains and faith-filled Christian soldiers drummed out of the ranks as they would be in Communist armies?
According to public commentary, the provision would even punish person-to-person sharing of faith in the military. Do you have a question about God? Good, save it for the next four years because asking will get you twenty.
Twenty years for sharing your faith? Surely, that's hyperbole. Perhaps not. According to Michael Weinstein, a Jewish consultant and commentator who has been fiercely opposed to Christian Conservatism in the military, calling them "Fundamentalist Christian Monsters," proselytizing is the same as "rape" and should be punished as treason.
Of course treason is punishable by death, so maybe 20 years is too little.
Government officials recently met with Weinstein who delightedly shared his opinions why soldiers who proselytize others should be punished. While announcing via the Huffington Post, that he does not advocate the ouster of evangelical Christians from the military, he did say, "We demand only that people of all faiths (or no faith) obey their solemnly sworn oath to the Constitution and follow the military's regulations regarding religion."
That sounds like a fairly innocuous statement with which most would agree. However, after consulting with Weinstein, government officials came out and "clarified" that proselytizing would earn you a court martial. This was not a coincidence.
Obama has a history of thinly-veiled hostility towards Christians and Jews. Certainly, this announcement comes under his watch and with his blessing.
Although Obama claims he prays for people in times of need, he has done a number of things that raise questions. For example, during each of his four past Thanksgiving addresses, Obama has omitted any reference to God. What's the point of Thanksgiving? Who does Obama thank, if not God?
Consider also, that U.S. relations with Israel are colder than they have ever been, ever.
And now, being Christian and doing what Christ commanded, which is to share Christian love and faith, will get you a court martial.
Nobody knows exactly what Obama's playing at, but it stands to harm our fighting forces and is probably contrary to our Constitution and good sense.
Now, like Nero before him, Obama intends to discipline any soldier who professes Christianity.
This has happened before, solders punished for being Christian. The time and place was that of the Roman Empire. Of course, we know what happened to them.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Pope Leo XIV – First American Pope
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

Memorial Day: Honor Those Who Have Given Their Lives in Military Service

To Honor the Lost: A Brief History of Memorial Day

The Sacred Memory of Sacrifice: A Catholic Reflection for Memorial Day
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Bl. Margaret Pole: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Prayer to St. Gabriel, for Others: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, May 10, 2025
Daily Readings for Tuesday, May 27, 2025
St. Augustine of Canterbury: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Prayer for Travelers: Prayer of the Day for Friday, May 09, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.