[Les] Modder’s 19 years of service includes many glowing fitness reports. He spent several years providing spiritual counsel to Navy SEALS, and in December received a letter of commendation from the head of the Navy Special Warfare Command, who called Modder the “best of the best” and a “talented and inspirational leader.”
Modder’s Liberty Institute attorney, Michael Berry, said the effort to fire him reflects a broader cultural change in the military.
“I think what we are seeing is a hostility to religious expression in the military now,” Berry said. “What we’re seeing is this new modern, pluralistic, Navy where service members are encouraged to be hypersensitive, especially about issues of faith, marriage and family.”
As long as these incidents occurred during counseling sessions, that were voluntary and requested by the sailors, I see no grounds for complaint. If I go to a Pentecostal minister for advice, I should reasonably expect that I am going to get the Pentecostal line. If these sailors wanted reinforcement in their lifestyle choices and to be told, don’t worry God loves you just as you are, they should have gone to an Episcopal chaplain.