Dear John,

Do our military members surrender their First Amendment rights when they join the service?

Once upon a time, the answer to that question was self-evident — of course not.

The Constitution protects both servicemembers and civilians, and I think you would agree that any notion to the contrary is deeply un-American.

This protection includes our vitally important military chaplains, who provide spiritual support, counseling, and advice to the servicemembers in their care.

But now, yet another highly-decorated chaplain is on the verge of having his career destroyed…simply for expressing his religious beliefs.

Army Chaplain Major Andrew Calvert—whose very duty is to provide religious and spiritual support—is facing career-ending punishment by the Army because some people found it offensive that he expressed his religious beliefs on his personal Facebook page.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Even more outrageously, the religious views Chaplain Calvert expressed regarding transgender servicemembers were consistent and compliant with military policy at the time he made them—on top of the fact his account clearly states that all posts and opinions are his own and not endorsed by the military.

And yet, the military concluded that he was “guilty of discrimination” and suspended him anyway. First Liberty is now appealing in an effort to save Chaplain Calvert’s career and his reputation.

Unbelievable. Such blatant anti-religious hostility is wrong, it completely contradicts the Constitution, and it is unacceptable in America.

Will you stand with First Liberty to defend Chaplain Calvert—and all chaplains—against this wave of hostility sweeping through the U.S. Military?

I call it a “wave of hostility” because unfortunately, this isn’t the first time we’ve defended a chaplain facing career-threatening discrimination.

U.S. Army Chaplain Scott Squires. U.S. Navy Chaplain Wes Modder. USAF SMSGT Phillip Monk. And now U.S. Army Chaplain Andrew Calvert. They've all had their lifelong careers thrown into jeopardy, bearing the brunt of a disturbing pattern of contempt for religious expression in the military in recent years.

To these shocking and shameful attacks, First Liberty has one firm response:

Not on our watch!

We’ve stepped up every time to protect religious freedom for these essential linchpins of our armed forces—and we’ve won every single case we’ve taken for each of these chaplains.

We expect to win for Chaplain Calvert as well. But we also expect the attacks to continue. In fact, we expect them to keep getting worse under the new administration.

And the only way we’re able to keep delivering victory is through your generous financial support.

We don’t charge these chaplains a dime to defend their rights, their livelihoods, and their dignity. After all, they didn’t join the service because it made them wealthy. They joined because they felt called—because it was the right thing to do.

And for fulfilling that mission, they have been punished and outcast.

So, it's our mission to fight alongside them and right these disgraceful wrongs.

Will you join me in this mission to uphold our nation’s courageous chaplains by donating at this secure link today?

With your support, we can win for Chaplain Calvert—and continue holding the line for all servicemembers of faith across America.

Gratefully, 

Kelly

Kelly Shackelford
President, CEO & Chief Counsel
First Liberty Institute