Faith under fire: Christians in U.S. military 'openly under attack,' says retired Navy chaplain
Has the U.S. military become hostile to Christianity?
The answer is "yes," as far as retired Navy chaplain Wes Modder is concerned. Modder came under attack from his superiors in the Navy last year for expressing his support for biblical marriage, according to CBN News.
"If you're a Christian and you come into the military today, it's going to be difficult for you," Modder said in a recent interview with OneNewsNow.
Modder said his case shows that Christianity is "openly under attack" in the U.S. military, adding that the problem is getting even worse.
Modder said it's a "new reality" that Christians working in the United States Armed Forces will be attacked for their beliefs.
He said the White House set the tone last year when it "championed" homosexual marriage and lit the White House in the so-called rainbow colours.
"Our leaders have done abominable things in the sight of God," Modder said.
Before he was forced to quit the Navy, Modder worked at the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, South Carolina.
Modder found himself in trouble when a lieutenant asked him about his personal views on gay marriage during a private conversation, which became a public case for the Navy chaplain.
The lieutenant turned out to be a gay activist who was backed up by the chaplain Modder was working with at the Navy facility in Charleston.
Modder said his fellow chaplain, "a very liberal United Methodist command chaplain," decided to escalate the issue and brought charges against him, calling him "intolerant and not able to function in a diverse pluralistic environment."
His Navy superiors later accused him of harassing sailors with his conservative views on homosexuality and marriage and recommended his dismissal from the service.
However, a "high-level review" rejected the recommendation to fire Modder, allowing him to retire in good standing with 20 years of service, the Military Times reported.
Modder received his honourable discharge, and a medal of accommodation from the Navy, on Sept. 6. He has accepted a lead pastor position at a church in Chicago.
