Tony Perkins' invitation to speak at
Andrews Air Force Base was revoked over controversial remarks he made
concerning the repeal of “don't ask, don't tell,” the 1993 law
that forbids gay troops from serving openly, POLITICO reported.
Perkins, the president of the
Christian-based Family Research Council, is opposed to the
president's plan to repeal the law. His group also played a
prominent role in repealing a gay marriage law in Maine last year.
Perkins told the Christian News
Service (CNS) that he was dis-invited to a prayer luncheon this
past Thursday on the Maryland base after he wrote an op-ed critical
of President Obama's call to end the policy in his first State of the
Union address.
“At a time of enormous economic
challenge, two on-going wars in which Americans are fighting and
increased terrorist threats to Americans at home, President Obama
seems untethered from that reality as he called on Congress to force
the military to allow open homosexuality,” Perkins said in a
statement published on his group's website January 27. “As a
veteran of the Marine Corps, the timing of the President's call in
the midst of two wars shows that he is willing to jeopardize our
nation's security to advance the agenda of the radical homosexual
lobby.”
“The sexual environment the President
is seeking to impose upon the young men and women who serve this
country is the antithesis of the successful warfighting culture and
as such should be rejected,” he added.
Two days after posting his remarks,
Perkins received a letter canceling the invitation.
“As a former Marine officer, I'm sure
you understand the situation in which we find ourselves,” Air Force
Chaplain Lt. Col. Gary Bertsch wrote. “As military members we are
sworn to support our Commander in Chief, and are forbidden to make or
support statements that run counter to our roles as members of the
armed forces.”
In a statement released to CNS, the
Andrews base public affairs office confirmed that Perkins was
dis-invited due to his “public comments.”
Perkins called the incident an example
of religious freedoms being trumped by political correctness.
“This is not about the chaplain,”
Perkins told CNS, “it's not even about Andrews Air Force Base, it's
about the chilling effect that this policy would have upon Christians
who operate from an understanding of what's right and right according
to Scripture.”