Written by Don Byrd
The government shutdown has kept all kinds of federal workers from doing their jobs, including some military chaplains who are under contract to provide services. One such civilian contractor, Father Ray Leonard, filed suit against the Department of Defense alleging violations of his religious freedom after he was not allowed to perform ceremonies while the government remained unfunded. While legislation allowed for continued military funding during the shutdown, the Defense Department interpreted that law to not cover contracting services like those provided by Leonard, who was deemed non-essential.
Now that a lawsuit has been filed, however, officials have reversed course and will now allow the services to continue, even during the shutdown. The Thomas More Center, which filed suit on Leonard’s behalf, has more.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, said, “The actions of the Federal Government were a blatant attack on religious liberty. I would never have imagined that our Government would ever bar Catholic Priest from saying Mass under threat of arrest and prevent Catholics from participating in their religious exercises. Allowing the Chapel doors to open and Father Leonard to fulfill his priestly responsibilities does not erase the Constitutional violations that occurred. We don’t want this to occur again the next time there is a government shutdown. Our lawsuit will continue.”
Via Religion Clause you can read the complaint, which was also brought on behalf of a member of his congregation, here.
