TUPELO, Miss.—A Navy Chaplain is facing trouble for his Christian views on marriage and relationships.

Chaplain Wes Modder is taking heat from the U.S. Navy for the way he counsels—with his biblical views and Christian faith driving his work.

In the course of his military duties, the highly decorated chaplain has provided spiritual counseling, encouragement and support to those who choose to see him in voluntary counseling sessions. In fact, Lt. Commander Modder, who was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) in Goose Creek, S.C., last year, has received the highest possible rating and accolades from the NNPTC commander.

But when a few sailors—at least one of whom is male and has a husband—complained about Modder’s counseling methods and biblical views on marriage, the Navy brought down the hammer, even though Modder’s views are in line with the teachings of his faith.

American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) sent an Action Alert yesterday to its one million-plus friends and supporters, asking them to defend Modder after the Navy removed him from his unit and confined him to the base chapel. Since then, more than 50,000 emails have flooded Capitol Hill, as Christians have come to Modder’s defense by alerting their senators and representatives about the chaplain’s case.

“Chaplain Modder’s is yet another example of anti-Christian actions within our military,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon, “and other examples are plentiful. We hope that concerned Americans will continue to support and pray for Chaplain Modder as he faces this attack. It’s time for Congress to get involved, stand up for the religious liberty of those who defend and protect us, and stop anti-Christian bigotry in our military.”

The Navy has recommended that Modder be removed from the promotion list (where he was listed as “Early Promote,” the highest rating possible); be “detached for cause,” which is the military equivalent of being terminated for cause and removed from his unit; and/or be brought before an official Board of Inquiry, where he could potentially be forced out of the Navy.

The Liberty Institute is also coming to Modder’s defense, stating that Modder has until Monday (March 16) to respond to the “detachment for cause.” Says the Liberty Institute, “Federal law and military regulations forbid the Navy from taking adverse action against a chaplain based on his faith, making the Navy’s actions against Modder unlawful. Liberty Institute is dedicated to defending Chaplain Modder’s religious liberty and ensuring that he will be able to continue his mission of providing for the spiritual needs of all soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.”

Fox News also reported on the story, and the U.S. Navy sent Fox the following statement on Tuesday: “Chaplain Modder has been temporarily assigned to Naval Support Activity Charleston as one of the chaplains on staff. The detachment for cause action will be reviewed by Navy Personnel Command. The senior chaplain remains in place at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command to provide religious ministry to the students and staff. The Navy values, and protects in policy, the rights of its service members, including chaplains, to practice according to the tenets of their faith and respects the rights of each individual to determine their own religious convictions.”

AFA’s Alert urges concerned Americans to contact their federal lawmakers and send a message about coming to the rescue of Chaplain Modder.

AFA informs Americans of other anti-Christian actions and organizations through its “Bigotry Map,” which exposes anti-Christian bigotry in America. On the map, AFA has identified more than 200 groups and organizations that openly display bigotry toward the Christian faith and is educating Americans about these groups through the online map.

The web site www.afa.net/bigotrymap includes an interactive map that identifies groups whose actions are deeply intolerant of the Christian religion. Their actions, for example, have endorsed efforts to silence Christians and to remove all public displays of Christian heritage and faith in America.

To view the anti-Christian groups by state, visit www.afa.net/bigotrymap. AFA also distributes a weekly email alerting supporters of the top anti-Christian bigotry stories across the country and how they can take action. Sign up for the alerts at http://www.afa.net/resources/email-newsletter-signup