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Chaplain removed from Navy

RICHMOND, Va. — A Navy chaplain who was reprimanded last fall for appearing in his military uniform at a White House news conference protesting the branch’s policy requiring nondenominational prayers outside of religious services has been removed from the Navy.

A federal appeals court ruling on Tuesday paved the way for Wednesday’s order dismissing Gordon Klingenschmitt. He said he signed the final paperwork Thursday morning.

“This has ended my 16-year career as an officer,” Klingenschmitt said in a telephone interview Thursday. “I lost a million-dollar pension. My family has been evicted from military housing.”

Tuesday’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia lifted an injunction that had prevented the Navy from dismissing Klingenschmitt in January.

Klingenschmitt, a priest in the Evangelical Episcopal Church, had served as a chaplain at Naval Station Norfolk for the last two years. Telephone messages left afterhours at the station were not immediately returned.

A military jury in September found that he had disobeyed an order prohibiting him from wearing his uniform during media appearances without prior permission when he led the prayer at the March 30, 2006, event.

Klingenschmitt had argued that he was allowed to wear his uniform if conducting a “bona fide worship service.” He said he believes he was punished for making a political speech in uniform because he prayed in Jesus’ name.

In 2005, Klingenschmitt went on an 18-day hunger strike in front of the White House over the right to invoke Jesus’ name.

William Farley, Klingenschmitt’s attorney, said the Navy’s decision violated his client’s constitutional right to practice his religion.

Klingenschmitt said he will continue a federal lawsuit against the Navy as a civilian and try to get reinstated. He said he is pursuing a doctorate in theology at Regent University in Virginia Beach and that he and his family have moved into student housing.