When Army Chaplain Scott Squires told a lesbian couple they could not participate in a marriage retreat he would conduct, they accused him of discriminating against them and filed a complaint. A military investigation determined he should be disciplined for refusing the couple from participating though he tried to make arrangements with another chaplain that would have accommodated their chosen lifestyle.
Squires is endorsed by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Squires is endorsed by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention which does not allow their chaplains to “conduct or attend a wedding ceremony for any same sex couple, bless such a union or counseling in support of such a union, assist or support paid contractors or volunteers leading same-sex relational events, nor offer any kind of relationship training or retreat, on or off any military installation, that would give the appearance of accepting the homosexual lifestyle or sexual wrongdoing.”
Of course, NAMB requires their chaplains like Squires to comply because the Scriptures condemn the practice of homosexuality, “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals…will inherit the kingdom of God,” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
The right of chaplains to act according to their conscience is protected by the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act signed into law by President Obama.
The right of chaplains to act according to their conscience is protected by the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act signed into law by President Obama. It states in section 533, (b), “No member of the Armed Forces may, (1) require a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the chaplain; or (2) discriminate or take any adverse personnel action against a chaplain, including denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment, on the basis of the refusal of the chaplain to comply with a requirement prohibited by paragraph (1).”
While the lesbian couple claims they were being discriminated against, their filing a complaint and those who conducted the subsequent investigation have by law discriminated against Chaplain Squires. Discrimination it seems is a two-edged sword, maybe Squires should counter-sue.
Same-sex couples should be careful about filing discriminatory lawsuits of this nature. It is clearly and frivolously discriminatory for them to claim discrimination, because they are discriminating against what another person believes by the very act of filing such a suit.
I am not here to whine about Christians being discriminated against, discrimination is a form of persecution and Paul warned us “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” 2 Timothy 3:12. Persecution comes with the territory of living for Christ.
A hypocritical legal system…
What I find hypocritical about it all is a legal system that turns a blind eye to the rights and liberty of one class of citizens, those who want to freely exercise their faith, by allowing another class of citizens, same-sex couples, to file discriminatory lawsuits.
The right to marry does not create an obligation on the part of others to participate in or secure that right. That would violate their liberty and the cause of justice. I think we need to ask the question, who is discriminating against who?
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