Hegseth Built a New Pentagon Office for Religion. Military Religious Leaders Wish He Hadn’t.
“What do I tell a soldier who believes an action is immoral, but also believes that God commanded it?” one Army chaplain told The Intercept. The post Hegseth Built a New Pentagon Office for Religion. Military Religious Leaders Wish He Hadn’t. appeared first on The Intercept .
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has created a new Office of Religious Affairs for the military, sparking concerns among military chaplains of various faiths. Hegseth announced the office on September 30, stating it would give chaplain corps members direct access to him without bureaucratic interference. This development coincides with his "Send Me" campaign, an online religious propaganda effort.
An active-duty Army chaplain serving as a non-Christian chaplain expressed worry that the new office could be used to promote Christianity, potentially undermining pluralism within the chaplain corps. Hegseth's body displays Christian imagery, including a Jerusalem cross and the phrase "Deus vult," which has ties to medieval Crusades.
The Pentagon's press secretary claimed the new office protects the constitutional right of service members to practice their faith without coercion. However, the chaplain fears the consolidated control could lead to fewer non-Christian chaplains being accepted into the ranks.
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