House OKs Military Prayers In Jesus' Name

The United States House of Representatives has approved a measure that would permit military chaplains to pray in Jesus’ name at public events.

The provision gained approval as part of a $513 billion Department of Defense authorization bill, which the House passed in a 396-31 vote May 11. The Armed Services Committee had attached the prayer measure to the overall bill before sending it to the full House.

The Senate will still have to approve the language as part of the authorization legislation.

The new language says: “Each chaplain shall have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of the chaplain's own conscience, except as must be limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible.”

After the Air Force issued its initial, interim guidelines in August, Jones led 70 representatives and two senators in October to ask President Bush for an executive order protecting the religious freedom of chaplains, including the right to pray in Jesus’ name. Bush, however, did not do so.
 
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