Christian Naval Chaplain Guilty of Praying in Uniform in Media Appearance

A jury of five U.S. Naval Officers recommended a reprimand and a $3,000 fine for an Evangelical Episcopalian Chaplain convicted of disobeying an order, which prohibited him from wearing his Navy uniform in media appearances.

Chaplain Lt. Gorgon James Klingenschmitt claimed that the news conference, in which he prayed “in Jesus' name” at the White House, was a “bona fide religious event,” and that he had written permission from his commander to wear his uniform at such events.

The news conference was called to protest Navy rules saying that outside of religious services, chaplains must offer prayers that are not denomination-specific. It is standard naval policy that a service member cannot wear his uniform in a media appearance when expressing his own opinion.

The maximum punishment Klingenschmitt faced was a reprimand, restriction to base for two months, and fines or forfeiture of pay of up to $42,000, which is two thirds of his annual salary.

Lt. Tiffany Hansen, Klingenschmitt's military lawyer, had told the jury that a conviction was enough because “there was no financial gain as a result of him doing what he did.”

Klingenschmitt received only the reprimand and a fine of $3,000, but said, “That letter of reprimand will be used in two or three months at an administrative separation board to kick me out of the Navy.”

He estimates that he will lose $1.8 million in pension and retirement benefits if he is dismissed.

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