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US S3526

US S3526
Military Religious Freedom Act of 2012


summary

Introduced
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

112th Congress

Bill Summary

Military Religious Freedom Act of 2012 - Requires the Armed Forces to accommodate the conscience and sincerely held moral principles and religious beliefs of its members concerning the appropriate and inappropriate expression of human sexuality, and prohibits the Armed Forces from using such conscience, principles, or beliefs (beliefs) as the basis of any adverse personnel action, discrimination, or denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment. Prohibits any member from: (1) directing, ordering, or requiring a chaplain to perform any duty, rite, service, or function that is contrary to his or her beliefs; or (2) discriminating or taking any adverse personnel action against a chaplain for refusing to comply with a direction, order, or requirement that is against his or her beliefs. Prohibits a military installation or other property owned, rented, or under the jurisdiction or control of the Department of Defense (DOD) from being used to officiate, solemnize, or perform a marriage or marriage-like ceremony involving anything other than the union of one man with one woman.

AI Summary

This bill, the Military Religious Freedom Act of 2012, aims to protect the religious and moral beliefs of members of the Armed Forces and chaplains. It mandates that the military must accommodate the sincerely held beliefs of service members regarding the expression of human sexuality and prohibits any negative personnel actions, discrimination, or denial of opportunities based on these beliefs, though it clarifies that disciplinary action for conduct violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice is still permissible. The bill also specifically protects chaplains by preventing them from being ordered to perform any religious duty or ceremony contrary to their beliefs or the beliefs of their endorsing faith group, and prohibits adverse actions against them for refusing such orders. Furthermore, it restricts the use of Department of Defense (DOD) property to officiate or perform marriage ceremonies that involve anything other than the union of one man and one woman.

Committee Categories

Military Affairs and Security

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (on 09/11/2012)

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