WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) is starting a national movement to get support for Congressman Walter Jones’ (R-NC) Military Chaplains bill, H.R. 268. The bill would protect military chaplains’ constitutional right to pray and close prayer according to their faith. The ACLJ is starting a petition to urge the president to protect military prayer.

“I have been active in trying to protect the rights of those who provide comfort and faith for our service men and women since 2005, when I sent my first letter to President Bush. Even with 70 cosponsors from the House and Senate, we had no success with the previous administration. Now with the new administration, we have another opportunity to pass this very important bill,” said Congressman Jones. “The government should not be able to tell a military chaplain, of any faith, how to pray or close prayer.”

The ACLJ stands firmly behind Congressman Jones and calls on the president to put an end to the censorship of chaplains. The petition introduced by the ACLJ states:

“We respectfully request that you, as Commander-in-Chief, approve an Executive Order which would protect the constitutional rights of our military chaplains to pray according to their faith and that Congress act swiftly to pass H.R. 268 to ensure that every military chaplain has the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of his own conscience.”