The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, which represents approximately 2,600 U.S. military chaplains, presented their 2016 Torchbearer Award on Wednesday to U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes.
The organization selected the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee for his “bold leadership in defending the religious freedom of all military personnel.” Forbes is also the founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus.
“We are delighted to present our Torchbearer Award to Representative Forbes for his faithful stand to protect service members’ God-given, constitutionally-protected religious liberties,” Chaplain Alliance executive director Col. Ron Crews (ret.) said. “No American, especially those who wear the uniform, should be denied their religious liberties.”
The Torchbearer Award is given to individuals who have helped advance religious liberty for all service members. Past recipients of the award include former Rep. Howard, “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), who was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. John Fleming (R-La.).
“The freedom to live out our faith is not only our unique heritage as Americans, but also a fundamental human right that is intrinsic to a free society,” Forbes said after receiving the award. “The men and women in uniform serving on the front lines to defend our nation should not be penalized for exercising the same freedoms they are fighting to protect. I will continue to work to defend the constitutional right of every American to practice their faith without fear of punishment by the government.”
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