GOP Senator Criticizes Defense Secretary's Religious Classification Change
GOP senator revolts over Hegseth’s ‘unacceptable’ religious decree
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Senator John Curtis (R-UT) condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office for reclassifying religions, reducing recognized faiths from over 200 to 31, and declaring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as non-Christian, which Curtis called 'unacceptable.'
- 01The Department of Defense reduced recognized religions from over 200 to 31 to improve spiritual care for military personnel.
- 02Senator John Curtis criticized the classification of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as non-Christian, emphasizing their Christian identity.
- 03Curtis stated that the government should not mischaracterize faiths contrary to their foundational beliefs.
- 04LDS Dems urged conservative church members to reconsider their support for the Trump administration after this classification change.
- 05The controversy highlights tensions within the Republican Party regarding religious identity and support for the military.
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Senator John Curtis (R-UT) expressed strong disapproval of a recent decision by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office, which significantly reduced the number of recognized religions within the Department of Defense from over 200 to 31. This change aimed to enhance the provision of spiritual care to military personnel. However, Curtis took issue with the classification of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church, as a non-Christian religion. He argued that this characterization is 'unacceptable' and contradicts the church's foundational beliefs, asserting that Latter-day Saints are unequivocally Christian. In response to the new military guidance, the LDS Dems, a Democratic Party caucus for left-leaning members of the church, called on conservative church members to reconsider their support for the Trump administration. They highlighted that the new classification reflects a broader issue of how the Republican Party engages with religious identities, particularly among patriotic and service-oriented individuals like the Latter-day Saints.
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The reclassification could affect the perception of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among military personnel and influence political support within the church community.
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