Navy to Chaplain Wes Modder: You Can’t Comfort Family of Dead Sailor
American Family Association (AFA, afa.net) is defending a highly decorated, greatly respected and deeply praised Navy chaplain for simply following his faith convictions and attempting to do his job to the best of his ability.
This morning, AFA sent an Action Alert to its one million-plus friends and supporters, urging them to contact their Senators and Representatives in defense of Chaplain Modder, who, earlier this month, was dismissed from the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, South Carolina, after a few sailors complained about Modder’s counseling methods surrounding his biblical view on sexuality and marriage.
Thus far, thousands of phone calls have gone to Capitol Hill in defense of the chaplain.
But just when we thought the Navy’s anti-Christian bigotry couldn’t go any lower, it did.
Now, Liberty Institute attorney Mike Berry is telling onenewsnow.com, AFA’s news service, that when Chaplain Modder received word of the death of someone in his previous unit last week, he leaped to action—doing what chaplains do best—comforting families in their time of need. But instead, Modder was stopped in his tracks by a commander who stepped in with the equivalent of a restraining order.
“He was told that he’s not allowed to do that because of this ‘no-contact’ order,” Berry told OneNewsNow. “And in fact, the unit was planning to have a memorial service coming up on Thursday and they’ve actually asked him to leave the base for that day. They don’t even want him in the vicinity or on the same base.”
Added Modder, “One of the most important things chaplains do is to provide comfort and care after a tragic death. I am heartbroken for the family, and yet the Navy won’t allow me to do my job of helping them grieve and mourn.”
“Every chaplain and every service member should be free to live according to their faith without fear of punishment by the government,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “We are encouraging Christians to get involved and help correct this injustice. Thousands of patriotic Americans have already called their Members of Congress, and the pressure is being felt in Washington. Let’s flood Capitol Hill with more messages of support for Chaplain Modder.”
In its Action Alert today, AFA is providing a link so those interested in contacting their Members of Congress can do so easily and quickly by providing phone numbers directly to the lawmakers’ offices.
After the run-in regarding Modder’s views on natural marriage, the Navy recommended that Modder be removed from the promotion list (where he was listed as “Early Promote,” the highest rating possible); be “detached for cause,” which is the military equivalent of being terminated for cause and removed from his unit; and/or be brought before an official Board of Inquiry, where he could potentially be forced out of the Navy.
