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=> So Hard To Be A Christian

So Hard To Be A Christian

Posted by pancho (Guest) - Wednesday, May 14 2008, 22:41:26 (CEST)
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May 13th, 2008 6:20 pm
Soldier appeals decision on conscientious objector status

Fort Mill Times

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A Fort Richardson soldier is seeking an appeal in federal court of the Army's decision denying him conscientious objector status.

Pfc. Michael Barnes is a paratrooper who served as a radio operator in the 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team. His is the first case of its kind in Alaska since the war in Iraq began.

Federal Magistrate John D. Roberts is expected this week to decide whether to allow the case to proceed to a civilian hearing.

Barnes, 26, didn't testify Monday during the hourlong hearing while sitting alongside Anchorage attorney Sam Fortier. In paperwork filed with the court, he declared that his Christian faith, which became clear as he watched events in Iraq unfold, now prohibits him from waging war.

"Spending my time on this earth killing or supporting killing others is unacceptable to me," Barnes wrote. "Serving Jesus is doing the opposite of participating in war. It is loving your enemy, avoiding conflict, being humble and living peacefully. I am unable to serve the Lord and support war."

Barnes was baptized at New Hope Community Church in Portland, Ore., in 2001.

The Army not only denied Barnes' request for conscientious objector status but also rejected his petition to be honorably discharged. The Army Conscientious Objector Review Board in Alexandria, Va., in September found Barnes failed to make a convincing case.

"I do not believe that Pfc. Barnes ... is sincerely opposed to participating in war, in any form, due to his religious faith," wrote the staff judge advocate in recommending the request be denied.

Army officials found that Barnes' request was at odds with him saying previously he wanted to serve in Iraq. They also noted that the request came three months after his deployment to Iraq. And they said officers in his chain of command were never made aware of his objections to the war until he was reassigned in December 2006 to serve as a gunner.

"Persons around him were surprised by his decision to become a conscientious objector," said Maj. Josh Toman.

But Barnes' lead attorney, Steven Collier, addressing the court by telephone from San Francisco, noted that his client did in fact share his misgivings with fellow soldiers as well as an Army doctor, who treated him for clinical depression, and an Army chaplain, who testified on his behalf.

"Three people testified that his Christian religious faith was growing at that time," Collier said.

Watching the proceedings in the courtroom were a half dozen representatives of the Alaskans for Peace and Justice organization as well as the soldier's wife, Pearl Barnes, and the couple's two children, Noah, 4, and Kylee, 1.

If the request for a full hearing in a civilian courtroom is upheld, the case will go before U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick in Anchorage federal court. A final decision is expected by June.

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