Joseph Lawhorn

Joseph "Joe" Lawhorn is a United States Army military chaplain with an Army Ranger tab since 1999. He received national attention after mentioning verses from the Bible in an optional handout[1] during his suicide prevention presentation November 20, 2014 for the 5th Ranger Training Battalion at University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, GA.[2] Chaplain Lawhorn is also an occasional author in the 5th RTB's FRG Newsletter.

Religious Freedom Controversy

Although Chaplain Lawhorn received ovation from his suicide prevention presentation, one soldier that attended the mandatory event contacted Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers. This led to Commanding Officer Col. David G. Fivecoat to write a Letter Of Concern on November 27, 2014 and again on December 8, 2014 condemning Chaplain Lawhorn for his actions and violation of Army policy.[3]

Due to the letter's potential to damage his 14-year military career, Grace Churches International sent a letter asking for Col. Fivecoat's first letter to be removed from his file on December 2, 2014.[4]

On December 9. 2014 Liberty Institute filed a similar request asking for the letters to be withdrawn, and requested that there be an official response before December 15, 2015.[5]

On December 11, 2014 Chaplain Alliance also weighed in by requesting the letter be dropped.[6] December 27, 2014 the Restore Military Religious Freedom Coalition sent a letter containing representatives of 20 groups, including retired Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin of FRC.[7] [8]

By February 5, 2015 twenty-four senators and U.S. representatives sent a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh demanding answers regarding the action taken.[6] As of February 27, 2015 Representative Doug Collins (R-GA) has sent three letters on behalf of Lawhorn requesting further information and assistance.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ Harkness, Kelsey (December 18, 2014). "Punished for Referencing Bible, Military Chaplain Tells His Side of the Story". Daily Signal. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ Tan, Michelle (December 12, 2014). "Chaplain under fire for comments during training". Army Times. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  3. ↑ Gryboski, Michael (December 11, 2014). "Christian Military Chaplain 'Condemned' for Telling Soldiers His Faith Helped Him Battle Depression". Christian Post. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ Unruh, Bob (December 12, 2014). "Uproar follows chaplain's reference to faith". WND. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Chaplain punished for sharing his faith in suicide prevention class". Fox News. December 9, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Congress demands answers in Army Chaplain Joe Lawhorn religious freedom case". The Global Dispatch. February 13, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  7. ↑ Brown, Lauretta (December 18, 2014). "Gen. Boykin: Army Violated Its Own Regulations in Punishing Chaplain for Using Scripture". CNS News. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ Scarborough, Rowan (January 1, 2015). "Army chaplain rebuked for citing Christian faith in suicide prevention effort". Washington Times. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ "DON'T MUZZLE OUR CHAPLAINS! U.S. Congressman Calls for Chief of Army Chaplains' Help". Liberty Institute. March 6, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ Bennett, Jonah (January 30, 2015). "Congressman Defends Army Chaplain Under Fire For Exercising Religious Liberty". Daily Caller. Retrieved April 26, 2015.

External links


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