US Senate provision allows military chaplains to opt out of same sex ‘marriages’
WASHINGTON, DC , December 12, 2011 ( LifeSiteNews.com ) - A provision added to the Senate defense authorization bill would give military chaplains the right to opt out of performing same sex “marriages.” The amendment was introduced last month by Republican Senator Roger Wicker and approved by a unanimous voice vote. The measure was introduced by Senator Roger Wicker “Protections for military chaplains should be guaranteed in any policy changes being implemented,” Wicker said, alluding to widespread fears that the conscience rights of military chaplains would be trampled in the wake of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal. A September memorandum from the Pentagon authorizing military chaplains to officiate at same-sex “weddings” despite the fact that federal law prohibits recognition of same-sex “marriages” had further heightened such fears. Dr. Ron Crews, Executive Director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, praised Wicker’s amendment in a recent statement. “Chaplains sho