US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has drawn criticism after announcing a new Office of Religious Affairs at the Pentagon, with people arguing that the move risks giving Christianity a greater role in military policy.
The leader of the office has not yet been named. Hegseth, however, used explicitly Christian language while announcing the initiative. He later addressed military chaplains directly, telling them: “Live your calling. Stand firm. Preach truth. Minister to the flock.”
Hegseth announced the office during his State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on September 30.
The new Office of Religious Affairs, or ORA, will report directly to the defense secretary and is intended to provide what the Pentagon described as “first-class religious support” while advocating for military chaplains and religious support at the department’s highest level. The ORA will coordinate religious and spiritual resources across the Defense Department, according to the Pentagon. A Pentagon memo says the religious affairs director will oversee resources including faith-based homeschool support for military families and faith-based initiatives aimed at supporting department-wide suicide reduction. The Pentagon said the office will not compel religious participation, favor one faith over another or diminish the rights of service members who follow any faith or have no religious affiliation. “Our department is, you might say, putting on the full armor of God, because while we wage physical war, we all know the real battle is spiritual,” he said during his speech.
