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July 7, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The U.S. Navy has issued an absolutely ridiculous order that bans enlisted servicemen from attending indoor religious services.

This wholly unjust directive was released late last month despite President Trump having already declared churches “essential” during the coronavirus lockdown.

LifeSite has launched a petition calling on President Trump to overrule the Navy’s outrageous measure. It already has over 17,000 signatures. Be sure to add your name to that petition. Click here to do so.

Today on The John-Henry Westen Show I speak to a member of the U.S. Navy, a Catholic, who has been impacted by this unjust order.

He told me that it’s essential that he goes to Mass right now given that access to the sacraments is integral to living out his faith and staying strong in the face of war.

He also said he was raised to believe that God, country, and family is the proper order of things but that right now, thanks to the Navy’s directive, that is out of whack and country is being put first.

He called on members of the Navy to step up and get rid of this unjust directive. He also called on his fellow service men to pray, do penance, and beg God to give them strength at this time.

Amen to that! 

The First Liberty law firm has announced it is suing the Navy for its anti-religious freedom decree, which threatens to court-martial any service member that attends church.

“On June 24, the Navy issued an order that banned troops from attending indoor religious services, although other activities such as using mass transit, hosting social gatherings of any size, and participation in protests are all permitted,” the group has explained

“The order specifically states that ‘service members are prohibited from visiting, patronizing, or engaging in…indoor religious services.’” 

I hope you will sign the petition calling on President Trump to overrule this anti-religious freedom measure. Again, click here to add your name.

I also hope you will join me in prayer that the Navy scraps the order altogether. Already there is news that they have slightly modified it.

The new provision appears to allow service men and women to attend off-base religious services if certain “conditions are met locally.” In areas where “conditions” aren't met, however, off-base religious service attendance is still prohibited. 

Although this is progress, it isn't enough. We must continue to stand up for religious liberty. The men and women who have dedicated their lives to serve America and the freedoms it was built upon deserve more.

The John-Henry Westen Show is available by video on the show’s YouTube channel and right here on my LifeSite blog.

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You can send me feedback, or ideas for show topics by emailing [email protected].

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John-Henry is the co-founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of LifeSiteNews.com. He and his wife Dianne have eight children and they live in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, Canada.

He has spoken at conferences and retreats, and appeared on radio and television throughout the world. John-Henry founded the Rome Life Forum, an annual strategy meeting for life, faith and family leaders worldwide. He is a board member of the John Paul II Academy for Human Life and the Family. He is a consultant to Canada’s largest pro-life organization Campaign Life Coalition, and serves on the executive of the Ontario branch of the organization. He has run three times for political office in the province of Ontario representing the Family Coalition Party.

John-Henry earned an MA from the University of Toronto in School and Child Clinical Psychology and an Honours BA from York University in Psychology.