A Navy chaplain who came under fire from his commander for speaking of Christian biblical values on homosexuality and marriage – and who was ordered to stop counseling any sailors – has filed a formal complaint so he can resume duties.
Chaplain Wes Modder has been spending his days on duty outside his office, on a tight rein from his commanding officer, Capt. Jon Fahs, who has ordered he stop speaking to fellow Navy personnel. Fahs ordered the stand-down after several sailors complained of his shared Christian views of marriage, Breitbart reported.
The complaint lodged by the sailors said Modder was “unable to function in a pluralistic and diverse Navy,” Breitbart said.
Modder then requested a religious accommodation so he could return to his official chaplain duties, but was denied. He then turned to the Liberty Institute for legal help.
“Capt. Fahs denied Chaplain Modder’s request for the religious accommodation based on outdated regulations, which were superseded by new Department of Defense policies and laws passed by Congress in 2014,” said Mike Berry, director of military affairs at the nonprofit legal facility, Breitbart reported. “Capt. Fahs unlawfully censored Chaplain Modder’s free exercise of religion by denying his request for a religious accommodation.”
Berry went on: “It is unacceptable that Capt. Fahs would rebel against federal laws and Department of Defense regulations, which clearly protect Chaplain Modder’s right to minister to service members according to his faith. Capt. Fah’s denial means the religious liberty of every chaplain in the U.S. military hangs in the balance.”
Modder’s served for nearly 20 years in both the Marines and Navy.
