Army to investigate baptizing military chaplain

I guess today is “Updating Other Stories Day” here at The Carpetbagger Report.

On Monday, I expressed outrage about the story of a Southern Baptist military chaplain, the Rev. Josh Llano, who was forcing troops in Iraq to get baptized if they wanted access to his pool of clean, cool water.

”It’s simple,” Llano explained. “They want water. I have it, as long as they agree to get baptized.” He added, “You have to be aggressive to help people find themselves in God.”

This was one of those stories that every blog on the web was ranting about, causing many blog readers to write and call military officials to complain. I’m pleased to report an investigation into the matter has begun.

The U.S. Army’s chief of chaplains, Gaylord Gunhus, said yesterday that military officials are looking into the matter. Gunhus, however, said he was confident that Llano hadn’t done anything wrong and that Llano was probably only kidding.

Kidding? Looking over the original story, it’s hard to see how Rev. Llano was joking around. His remarks suggest he was completely serious and intent on driving soldiers to convert.

The investigation could become somewhat contentious. Army spokeswoman Martha Rudd acknowledged that military investigators spoke with Llano after the reports of his proselytizing were made public, and Llano apparently told them he doesn’t remember making the comments attributed to him in the media. Meg Laughlin, who wrote the article that generated the controversy, stood by her story and said others were present to hear Llano’s remarks during her interview with him.

If the original report is true, and Llano was coercing soldiers into getting baptized, the only responsible course of action would be his discharge from the military and the revocation of his endorsement to serve as a military chaplain. I’ll keep you posted if I hear more about this.