CNN reported:
"A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private ceremony, whether on or off a military installation, provided that the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law," a [Pentagon] memo released Friday says. "Further a chaplain is not required to participate in or officiate a private ceremony if doing so would be in variance with the tenets of his or her religion."Sounds perfectly reasonable, a true respect of religious liberty, "private" ceremonies not involving "marriage" pursuant to DOMA, but the great people at the "Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty" are upset:
By dishonestly sanctioning the use of federal facilities for ‘marriage counterfeits’ that federal law and the vast majority of Americans have rejected, the Pentagon has launched a direct assault on the fundamental unit of society – husband and wife.
We call once again for Congress to affirm that the federal definition of marriage applies to the Department of Defense and that no federal facilities may be used to circumvent federal law. In addition, we call on Congress to enact a ‘Right of Conscience’ clause in the Revised Title 10 code to ensure that no American, and especially not our service members, be forced to deny their religious beliefs.”The link is via TPM. You know what else "the vast majority of Americans have rejected"? The contraceptive policies of the Roman Catholic Church. Their divorce rules (is allowing divorced people to "re-marry" via "marriage counterfeits" a problem too?) aren't too popular, if numbers are any judge, either. Or, the policy on pre-marital sex. The Orwellian name of the organization fits the bigotry promotion involved here. Religious belief of various types can be handled, but not if gays are protected.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court needs to decide a clash between civil and religious law. Respect for free exercise of religion, including by exceptions from secular laws, honors the First Amendment. But, there was always a limit there when action was involved. Tricky question: no wonder the Supremes staid away from it for quite some time. Be interesting to see what happens.