Navy to Allow Chaplains to Perform Same-Sex Weddings?

Earlier this week, leaders of the U.S. Navy announced a plan to begin training U.S. Navy chaplains on performing same-sex weddings in states where same-sex marriage is legal. The plan quickly came under fire from Congressional leaders who said it would violate the federal government’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

In response, the Chief of Navy chaplains issued a memo saying his earlier decision was “suspended until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and interdepartmental coordination.”

All branches of the military have been taking steps to prepare for openly gay service personnel. Under the law passed and signed by the president in December reversing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, final implementation would go into effect 60 days after the president and his senior defense advisers certify that lifting the ban won’t hurt troops’ ability to fight. The Navy was the first branch considering “civil union” or same-sex marriage ceremonies on its military bases.

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