Christian leader dismissed over praying 'in Jesus' name'

ARRA Editor: Remember when we reported of Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, who was removed from the military service because of his prayers "in Jesus' name."If not, click to read varied postings. The trampling of Christian rights to pray in the name of their Lord continues.
World News Daily has reported that a Christian leader has been dismissed over praying 'in Jesus' name.' Chaplain Danny Harvey recently was "involuntarily terminated," according to a letter from the Leesburg Regional Medical Center, Virginia. Harvey's supervisor had called him into her office, and ordered that not only would he not prayer further "in Jesus' name," but that he was to instruct his volunteer chaplains to follow the same restriction.

The hospital said it dismissed Harvey from his $48,000-a-year post not because he was praying in the name of Jesus Christ, "but [because] the official duties of a paid position were not being met. Those duties include being respectful of the different religious beliefs of our patients and the ability to lead them in their faith in their time of need." Hospital officials told a newspaper guidelines from the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education teach respect for all religions. Harvey said as a Christian chaplain, he routinely supported other faiths, such as Islam, expressed by patients by getting them access to someone who could help them directly with their needs. "There are some things I can't do as an evangelical pastor. For example, I can't offer certain things of the Catholic faith, including confession. I would get a Catholic priest," he said.

Harvey said the issue first arose several years ago when he was asked to pray over the opening of a new hospital unit. He was told he would not be allowed to include "in Jesus' name." He objected, and was ordered to take a diversity course, which he did. Then at a staff meeting in August, Havey closed with a prayer in the name of Jesus. "That's what sparked this issue. I have written documentation. I was pulled into the office on Friday and told 'Under no circumstances will you pray in this name again,'" he said. "I said, 'I can't abide by your wishes.' She also told me I should tell my volunteer chaplains they shouldn't pray in Jesus name either. About four or five days later, I was relieved of my duties." . . . [Read More]

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