The House Armed Services Committee is considering a religious liberty amendment to the National
Defense Authorization Act Wednesday over fears the military is punishing soldiers for expressing their religious faith.
“The men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms should not have their own religious
freedom jeopardized during their military service,” said Rep. John Fleming (R-LA), who authored the amendment.
Fleming said steps taken in last year’s NDAA only focused on protecting beliefs of service members –
and not the exercise or expression of those beliefs.
“My amendment is necessary to ensure
that men and women of faith will not be discriminated against in the Armed Forces, and will be free to exercise their religious
beliefs,” he said. “Military service members, particularly chaplains, feel like their ability to execute their
duties are being greatly limited by some of the policies and actions in the Pentagon.”
The
Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions about the congressman’s amendment.
Fleming
told Fox News it appears that in some cases members of the U.S. military have been punished because of their religious faith.
