Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for "overwhelming violence of action" against those who "deserve no mercy" during a monthly Christian service held at the Pentagon on March 25, a day after he announced major changes to the military's chaplaincy corps.
Speaking to military and civilian employees at the livestreamed service, Hegseth quoted Scripture and read a prayer he said was first offered by a military chaplain during a past U.S. operation. The prayer asked God to "let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation."
"Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy," Hegseth said. He also called on God to "break the teeth of the ungodly."
On March 23, the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit challenging the Pentagon's Christian worship services, according to Military.com, arguing they violate constitutional limits on government endorsement of religion even when framed as voluntary.
"Even if these prayer services are presented as voluntary, there is pressure on federal employees to attend to appease their bosses," Americans United President and CEO Rachel Laser said in a statement shared with the outlet.
Department of War spokesperson: 'We are proud to host these services'
Kingsley Wilson, the press secretary for the Department of War, formally known as the Department of Defense, previously told USA TODAY that Hegseth's prayer services "undoubtedly improve morale for those who choose to attend and are constitutionally protected."
Wilson added: "We are proud to host these services and will continue to do so."
Earlier this week, Hegseth announced that chaplains will display their religious insignia while retaining their rank as officers. They "will be seen among the highest ranks because of their divine calling," Hegseth said in a video posted to X.
The change reflects Hegseth's wider effort to infuse the chaplaincy, and the military more broadly, with more explicitly religious sentiments.
Hegseth's prayers also come weeks after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 after talks about Tehran's nuclear program failed to yield a deal. The war has spread across the Middle East, killing thousands of people and hitting the global economy with soaring energy prices, fuelling global inflation fears.
Contributing: BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAY; Reuters
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Facts Only
Pete Hegseth: Defense Secretary
Pentagon: location of service
March 25: date of service
Prayer: content of service
Scripture: quoted during prayer
U.S. operation: unspecified past event referenced in prayer
Enemies of righteousness and the United States: targets of "overwhelming violence of action"
God: entity invoked in prayer
Americans United for Separation of Church and State: advocacy group filing lawsuit
March 23: date lawsuit filed
Constitutional limits on government endorsement of religion: context of lawsuit
Executive Summary
On March 25, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a Christian service at the Pentagon where he called for "overwhelming violence of action" against enemies of righteousness and the United States. The service came a day after Hegseth announced changes to the military's chaplaincy corps, including allowing chaplains to display their religious insignia while retaining rank.
Hegseth's prayer also included a call for wisdom, endurance, unbreakable unity, and a break on the "teeth of the ungodly." This comes amidst ongoing tensions in the Middle East following the recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, which have resulted in thousands of deaths and global economic disruptions.
The prayer service has been met with controversy due to concerns about government endorsement of religion, with the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State filing a lawsuit against the Pentagon. The Department of War, however, defends these services as constitutionally protected and morale-boosting for those who choose to attend.
Full Take
Pete Hegseth's prayer at the Pentagon, calling for "overwhelming violence of action" against those deemed enemies, raises concerns about the blurring of lines between religious and military rhetoric. This incident is a prime example of ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey (using ambiguity to defend extreme positions) and ARC-0024 Ambiguity (leaving room for interpretation).
While Hegseth's prayer may be defended as constitutionally protected and morale-boosting, it also risks creating an environment where religious sentiment is privileged over other belief systems, potentially leading to discrimination or unequal treatment.
The ongoing tensions in the Middle East further complicate this situation, as military actions can easily become intertwined with religious motivations. This intersectionality of religion and politics requires careful consideration, as it has the potential to escalate conflicts both domestically and internationally.
Questions for independent inquiry might include: How should the U.S. government balance its commitment to religious freedom with the need for military cohesion? What role does religion play in shaping American foreign policy decisions? And how can we ensure that military actions are driven by strategic and ethical considerations rather than religious sentiments?
Sentinel — Human
This text shows signs consistent with a human writer. It features idiosyncratic emphasis, personal voice, and a lack of perfect paragraph structure—all characteristics of human journalism.