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Veteran sees invitation to prayer luncheon yanked

by Chad Groening

OneNewsNow.com

February 26, 2010

A pro-family leader was "dis-invited" to speak at a luncheon at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, DC, after he criticized President Obama's call for lifting the ban on homosexuals serving in the military.

Tony Perkins is president of the DC-based Family Research Council (FRC). He had been invited to speak at the National Prayer Luncheon at the military base, scheduled for February 25. Perkins, who is an ordained minister and a Marine Corps veteran, had planned to give a devotional message -- not a political one.
 
However, after President Obama called on Congress to repeal the 1993 law which bans homosexuals from military service, Perkins forcefully spoke out against the proposed policy change. Two days later, he received a letter from the chaplain's office at Andrews AFB.
 
"I received a letter dis-inviting [me] to speak because of the statements that our organization had made," he explains. "At one level it's disappointing, because as a veteran of the Marine Corps I look forward to opportunities to speak to men and women in the military. But secondly, and much more alarming, is this is a foreshadow[ing], I believe, of things to come if this policy goes forward."
 
The FRC president believes the new law would result in a zero-tolerance policy towards those who disapprove of homosexual conduct.
 
"[I think] this sends...a very chilling message across the ranks of the military, especially among chaplains who have an orthodox view of scripture and of human sexuality," he notes. "[They] could very well be on their way out of the military [under this policy]."
 
Perkins is encouraging individuals to contact their members of Congress, urging them to oppose repeal of the law.