Former SEALs Chaplain Could be Kicked Out of Navy for Christian Beliefs

Amanda Casanova | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: Mar 10, 2015

Former SEALs Chaplain Could be Kicked Out of Navy for Christian Beliefs

A former U.S. Navy SEALs chaplain could be kicked out of the military after he was accused of not showing “tolerance and respect” in private counseling sessions.

According to Fox News, Lt. Commander Wes Modder has also been accused to not being able to “function in the diverse and pluralistic environment” of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, S.C.

“On multiple occasions he discriminated against students who were of different faiths and backgrounds,” the Chaplain’s commanding officer Capt. Jon R. Fahs wrote in a memorandum.

Modder has been in the military for nearly 20 years. Before becoming a Navy chaplain, Modder served in the Marine Corps. In his last review with Fahs, the commanding officer said Modder was “the best of the best.”

On Dec. 6, an assistant in Modder’s office submitted a five-page complaint against Modder, complaining of Modder’s views of “same-sex relationships/marriages and homosexuality.”

The assistant is gay and married to another man.

Modder was then removed from his station.

“It was insulting and it was devastating,” Modder said. “I felt discriminated against. How could something like this happen at this stage of my career?”

Michael Berry, an attorney with Liberty Institute who is representing Modder, said that threatening to throw Modder out of the military is unjust.

“They want chaplains to be glorified summer camp counselors and not speak truth and love into people’s lives,” Berry told me. “There are some anti-religious elements in our military. Anytime somebody wants to live their faith out – there are people who say that is offensive.”

Publication date: March 10, 2015



Former SEALs Chaplain Could be Kicked Out of Navy for Christian Beliefs