Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ballabosh · 04-07-2003, 07:48 AM

Hope this hasn't already been posted.

Miami Herald Article

Alludium Fozdex · 04-07-2003, 08:38 AM

That chaplain is in dire need of a boot in the ass...

:banghead:

trunks2k · 04-07-2003, 10:25 AM

Another item to add to the list of things that piss me off beyond all belief. How could you be so cruel? Fuck him and everyone like him.

Toto · 04-07-2003, 10:33 AM

Quote:

''You have to be aggressive to help people find themselves in God,'' he said.

He calls himself a ''Southern Baptist evangelist,'' and justifies the war and killing with a verse from the Gospel of Matthew, which he often recites: "Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's."

''This means we are called upon by our government to fight and that is giving unto Caesar, as the Bible tells us,'' he said.

:banghead:

ruby-soho · 04-07-2003, 11:01 AM

In a somewhat similar vein...

U.S. Military Support for Baptist Evangelism Program Draws Protest from Americans United

Can't these fundamentalist freaks give it a rest??? :banghead:

RufusAtticus · 04-07-2003, 11:38 AM

Maybe someone could forward the story to the military. As far as I know, such actions go against the chaplain code of conduct.

nogods4me · 04-07-2003, 01:00 PM

That behavior is unconscionable and should result in a court martial for the chaplain. he is a pathetic piece of human excrement to hold something like water and food over fellow soldiers. he should be ashamed of himself, but i guess being a prick for jebus is ok in his book.

... · 04-08-2003, 05:17 AM

Anyone know the name/email of this guy's XO? He really does need to be relieved of his duties.

nj_heathens · 04-08-2003, 07:54 AM

I found the following info doing a Google search on Chaplain Josh Llano:

Contact information for Llano on another forum.

Quote:

Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry
Josh Lee Llano
3574 Frazier Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76110

(817)924-6225

2503 Panagard #1104, Houston, TX 77082, (281)558-5972

This is from the site
Different Strings

Quote:

Letter to the Chief of Army Chaplains

A copy of my letter to Major General Gunhus regarding the "Baths for Baptisms" situation:

Major General Gunhus,

Today I read an article in the Miami Herald [ http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...ld/5554317.htm ] that claims an Army chaplain named Josh Llano has control over a 500 gallon pool, which he allows our soldiers to use for bathing, but only if they first listen to an hour-and-a-half long sermon and then agree to be baptized. Given the current conditions of battle, many soldiers are reportedly desperate enough for a bath that they agree to his conditions.

It is my understanding that an Army chaplain is supposed to be "[s]ensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their family members and civilians who work for the Army," according to the requirements for being a chaplain as posted on the Army Chaplian section of the goarmy.com website. [ http://chaplain.goarmy.com/chapl101/chapl02.htm ]. Obviously, if Chaplain Llano is coercing soldiers to undergo a religious conversion to his own personal faith in order to allows them access to a bath, he is not being at all sensitive to religious pluralism or providing for the free exercise of religion.

Admittedly, there are a couple of questions about the story - such as why, in the middle of a water shortage, does a chaplain have access to a 500-gallon pool of water, and how he keeps the water clean after allowing the soldiers to bathe, but I cannot imagine any reason why a reasonably reputable newspaper, such as the Miami Herald, would make up such a story. If it is true, however, as I suspect it is, this is a complete and intolerable outrage, and chaplain Llano must immediately be ordered to stop using such coercive tactics and allow soldiers free use of his pool, regardless of their religious affiliation.

The freedom to follows one's own conscious in regards to what spiritual path an individual chooses to walk is one of the fundamental freedoms that the country was founded upon. Individual spirituality is more than just an important liberty, however, it is also something that is deeply personal, and upon which a person depends in times of trial and crisis. I cannot imagine a more trying time for a person than to be involved in a difficult and controversial war in a foreign land with all of the uncertainty which that implies. Now, more than ever, is a time our soldiers need to be able to rely upon their own personal faith in whatever they've chosen to believe in, and to be able to receive support from the Army's chaplains which meets their needs - not the needs or desires of the chaplain him- or herself.

It is my hope and my request that you will take IMMEDIATE action to put an end to Chaplain Llano's tactics and remind him of his obligation to the men and women of our Armed Services - to provide spiritual support to them that respects their personal beliefs and right to the free exercise of their chosen spiritual path.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

From the previous blog entry:

Quote:

UPDATE: One of Atrios' readers found the following information for contacting the Army Chief of Chaplains:

Chief of Chaplains
Maj. Gen.Gaylord T. Gunhus
[email protected]

Deputy Chief of Chaplains
Brig. Gen. David H. Hicks
[email protected]

http://134.11.73.3/infoltr/january2001.htm

There's no shortage of Google hits on this guy, many leading to blog rants and calls to action.

Mrs. Heathen

mjennyt · 04-08-2003, 11:02 AM

Excuse me while I go vomit.

What a disgusting abuse of power.

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04-07-2003, 07:48 AM	#1
ballabosh Junior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Chicago Posts: 8	Bribery in the name of the Lord Hope this hasn't already been posted. Miami Herald Article

04-07-2003, 08:38 AM	#2
Alludium Fozdex Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Planet X, hiding from Duck Dodgers Posts: 1,691	That chaplain is in dire need of a boot in the ass... :banghead:

04-07-2003, 10:25 AM	#3
trunks2k Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 6,997	Another item to add to the list of things that piss me off beyond all belief. How could you be so cruel? Fuck him and everyone like him.

04-07-2003, 11:01 AM	#5
ruby-soho Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Kansas City USA Posts: 68	In a somewhat similar vein... U.S. Military Support for Baptist Evangelism Program Draws Protest from Americans United Can't these fundamentalist freaks give it a rest??? :banghead:

04-07-2003, 11:38 AM	#6
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	Maybe someone could forward the story to the military. As far as I know, such actions go against the chaplain code of conduct.

04-07-2003, 01:00 PM	#7
nogods4me Contributor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 17,432	That behavior is unconscionable and should result in a court martial for the chaplain. he is a pathetic piece of human excrement to hold something like water and food over fellow soldiers. he should be ashamed of himself, but i guess being a prick for jebus is ok in his book.

04-08-2003, 05:17 AM	#8
... Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: United States Posts: 229	Anyone know the name/email of this guy's XO? He really does need to be relieved of his duties.

04-08-2003, 11:02 AM	#10
mjennyt Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 39	Excuse me while I go vomit. What a disgusting abuse of power.

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