First same-sex marriage performed by an army chaplain

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/8/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Ceremony took place in Louisiana, where same-sex marriage is not legal

On a Louisiana army post, an army chaplain has performed the first same-sex nuptial ceremony involving two lesbian soldiers. Same-sex marriage is not legal in the state of Louisiana, so the event is being described as a "religious" ceremony.

The Army confirmed that the ceremony, performed at the Fort Polk army base was not billed as an official marriage.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Rep. John Fleming, M.D. reported that the U.S. Army had confirmed that the chaplain had performed the ceremony a few weeks ago in the base chapel at Fort Polk.

"It is my understanding that this is the first ceremony of its type on an American military base and that is, as it's reported, it was a wedding ceremony between two members of the same gender who are uniformed members of the Army," Fleming told CNSNews.com.

Fleming, who is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the Army confirmed that the ceremony was not billed as an official marriage.

"As its characterized, this ceremony occurred only as a religious ceremony, it was not intended or advertised to be a lawful or legal union," Fleming said. "Such marriages between persons of the same-sex are not recognized by the state of Louisiana, so it can't be a lawful or legal marriage ceremony.

"That's a bit distressing in itself, because, why go through this, except for social or cultural experimentation, or to push forward or propagate somebody's agenda?" Fleming asked.

"I just think it's inappropriate to use military facilities for that purpose," he added.

Fort Polk military officials, in addition to the Army Office of Chief of Chaplains did not respond to further inquiries about the case. A Fort Polk spokesman told the Associated Press described the event as a "same-gender private religious ceremony."

A Disciples of Christ chaplain performed a "marriage-like" commitment ceremony for the two lesbian soldiers, Dr. Ron Crews, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Freedom says.

"They were very careful in the wording, from what I understand, to make this only a religious ceremony," Crews says, noting that the Disciples of Christ denomination allows its clergy to perform same-sex "commitment" ceremonies.

"That raises the question about the new DOD policy that allows a chaplain to do a marriage-like ceremony in a military chapel in a state that has a clear definition of marriage in their state law," Crews says. His organization represents more than 2,500 Christian military chaplains.

In dissent, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), chairman of the Seapower & Projection Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, loudly denounced the military for allowing the ceremony to be held in a military chapel.

"It is very concerning that a same-sex ceremony would occur on a military base in a state where the definition of marriage has been clearly defined as between one man and one woman," Akin said.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Same-sex marriage, army base, lesbians, religious ceremonies

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

zJoAnn
11 months ago
Is anyone aware that our Chaplains in the military were told that they can no longer refer to Jesus in their sermons and services. "God" is okay but not Jesus. Just another step towards eliminating our religious freedoms. What's next? God bless.
JeanCatherine
11 months ago
R.C.

Considering the Lord's temptation against the devil in the desert Im pretty sure the Lord didnt have sex with anybody. The Bible pretty much infers what Christ was all about excepting a few mysteries yet that we dont know about.

I dont believe our Lady had relations perse after she had Christ which is a possibility considering that Joseph came to the knowledge as to who she and her Son would be.

Let me ask a question to all if you were Joseph and you knew that God was in your dreams guiding you to take care of this Pregnant women and you knew she was overshadowed by God and the Holy Spirit would you have relations afterward with this special lady? Im not so sure it took place. It seems to be commonsensical back then some real special stuff was going on. God was guiding this whole story think about it.

Got to remember the Jews were particular about the law and God so my guess is no to some of your questions. Especially if Joseph and Mary were being guided supernaturally by the God and the Holy Spirit. Makes sense to me. Maybe not to modern day thinking but for those times definitely and even today I would think this way. Its respectful and in honor of God.
Michael
11 months ago
God will destroy sodom.
Jed
11 months ago
"our nations separation of Church and state"

Separation of Church and state is nowhere to be found in the Constitution. The term was used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association describing the "wall of separation between Church and state" implied by the 1st Amendment.
David Cooney
11 months ago
JeffreyR05,

That is because the "separation of Church and State," doesn't exist as most people think. It does not in any way prohibit a clergyman from being a military chaplain or from performing a religious ceremony on military grounds. It merely prohibits the government from establishing a state religion and from forcing anyone to support a specific religion. Now, if that had been the case, then people "here" (and elsewhere) would certainly have raised the objection.
rightwinghater
11 months ago
What?!?!
A religious ceremony being performed on a military base?!?!
TAX funded, governmental endorsed religious ceremony on a government base?!?!
Guess its cool as long as it is gay.
Terri K
11 months ago
The military has never prohibited religious observances on its installations. Why would that be an issue? This is about something immoral that conflicts with the law in the state and the country in which it occurred. DOMA is still the law of the land in the US and Louisiana has a law enshrining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. That's the issue. Anybody who thinks the so-called separation of church and state means that government and religion must be totally divorced from one another needs to do some reading. The First Amendment is the best place to start.
JeffreyRO5
11 months ago
The article clearly stated it wasn't a wedding but a religious ceremony. I love how no one here seems to be complaining that the military is permitting a religious event on government property, despite our nation's separation of church and state!

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