U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, participates in a forum hosted by the Sutherland Institute at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics on Oct. 14, 2024. (Katie McKellar/Utah News Dispatch)
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon reversed course Monday after removing dozens of religious denominations from its list of recognized denominations, drawing fierce criticism over the weekend from Utah Republicans outraged by its failure to classify The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Christian denomination.
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, a member of the church commonly known as the Mormon Church, called the military chaplaincy policy announced Friday “offensive” and demanded that the Pentagon reverse course, which the department did on Monday afternoon.
“It is also simply repugnant to any sense of decency, any sense of our common heritage and our common belief that government should not influence doctrinal disputes between different religious denominations,” Lee, a Republican from Utah, said in a speech video statement posted on social media on Sunday evening.
“That’s why I respectfully implore the people at the Pentagon to reconsider this, and not just reconsider, but reverse it,” Lee continued. “Secretary Hegseth: Tear down that wall. It’s not cool.”
Hours later, Lee wrote on social media that he had personally spoken to President Donald Trump on the phone about the Pentagon’s “Christian list” and told people to “stay tuned.”
“I won’t speak on his behalf, but I’m excited to see where this all goes,” Lee he wrote. “We are happy that President Trump (1) loves Latter-day Saints and (2) is our commander in chief.”
A spokesman for Lee’s office told States Newsroom on Monday that the senator had received assurances from the administration that the issue would be resolved.
Just after noon EST on Monday, the Pentagon pointed out to States Newsroom on social media post displaying the current list without the word “Christian” before any denomination.
“The Pentagon’s job is not to adjudicate on theological debates, but instead to ensure that sincerely held faith is respected and supported within our ranks,” said a post published by an account nicknamed “DOW Rapid Response,” using an acronym for the administration’s preferred but unofficial name, the War Department.
Sen. John Curtis, a Utah Republican, also spoke out on social media, stating that the church is “unequivocally Christian.”
“It is unacceptable for a government entity to characterize faith in a way that is contrary to its basic assumptions,” he said. he wrote Saturday.
Lawmakers fear that Latter-day Saint service members may not benefit from the services of a Christian chaplain.
The case puts the Pentagon at the center of a long-running theological dispute between Latter-day Saints, who believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and consider themselves Christians, and some members of other Christian denominations who believe the Salt Lake City church should be viewed as a non-Christian entity.
Church of Latter-day Saints leaders declined to comment Monday.
The White House pointed “States Newsroom” to the department’s announcement on social media Monday afternoon.
A shorter list
Quoting from a two-page letter sent On social media Friday, Parnell said the department had made a “long overdue move” to reduce the overall list of military chaplains to 31 from an “unmanageable” 200.
“This reduction in the number of religious affiliation codes is not intended to make any claim as to the legality of any religious faith or belief, nor is it intended to provide a list of “officially approved” religions. Rather, it is intended to enable chaplains to quickly review the religious makeup of their units and determine how they organize resources to best serve soldiers of all faith groups,” Parnell wrote.
The list includes 21 separate Christian denominations, but lists The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints separately.
“The Hijacking of Christian Nationalism”
Criticism of the up-to-date list has resonated beyond Latter-day Saints.
The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, a Baptist minister and president and CEO of the advocacy group Interfaith Alliance, on Friday accused the administration of pushing a “Christian nationalist takeover of the Department of Defense.”
“Religious freedom in the military must mean religious freedom for everyone who serves, not just those the administration deems politically useful,” Raushenbush said in a statement.
“Secretary Hegseth is not ‘perfecting’ anything. He is elevating one narrow religious worldview to the top of the chain of command. It is dangerous, discriminatory, and fundamentally un-American. The First Amendment does not allow the government to create a hierarchy of religious beliefs, and it certainly does not allow the Pentagon to decide which beliefs deserve recognition.”
Hegseth announced in March a restructuring of the military chaplain corps, which he said had been “infected with political correctness and secular humanism.”
Hegseth hosts of heaven monthly Christian service at the Pentagon.
