Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) has introduced the Military Pastor Act of 2025, aimed at supporting and safeguarding military pastors across all branches, as per exclusive insights from Breitbart News.
Self, along with Rep. Morgan Lutrell (R-TX), has proposed a law designed to counteract negative actions within the Department of Defense targeting pastors, despite existing constitutional and statutory safeguards.
“The freedom for military pastors to carry out their religious duties is not just a constitutional right; it’s crucial for shaping the moral compass and character of our service members,” Self remarked in a statement. He emphasized the importance of pastoral guidance, noting his own experience in the Army over 25 years, insisting that these individuals should serve without compromising their religious freedoms.
Self noted that certain individuals within the DOD have retaliated against military pastors in an effort to undermine legal protections and to secularize military pastoral programs.
His office indicated that issues included, but were not limited to, pastors who provided biblical guidance on human sexuality, sought religious exemptions from the Covid-19 vaccine, or faced repercussions for counseling aligned with their faith principles.
Consequences for these protected activities often manifested as downgraded performance evaluations, forced separation from military service resulting in missed promotions, and additional retaliatory actions ranging from poor fitness reports to restricted travel and denied mandatory training.
While there are fundamental protections for religious freedom—including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Section 533 of the 2013 NDAA, and the First Amendment—Self argues that more explicit statutory protections for military pastors within the Department of Defense remain essential.
“We have a government that currently values the role of pastors, but this may not always hold true,” Self stated, stressing the urgency of the law to secure military religious freedoms.
The Military Pastor Act contains several key provisions:
- It establishes legal protections for pastors, ensuring they can serve in line with their religious beliefs and advocacy organizations.
- It clarifies the diverse objectives, roles, and duties of pastors, which extend beyond merely promoting religious practice to include mental health support and advising on policy matters.
- All liabilities offer clear statutory protections, prohibiting censorship, excessive restrictions, and fears of retaliation.
- It seeks to standardize pastoral roles across all military branches.
The bill has garnered support from the First Liberty Institute and the Chaplains Alliance for Religious Liberty (CALL), who commended the initiative in a statement to Breitbart News.
“Pastors play a vital role in our military forces, and it’s crucial they have the resources and protections necessary to perform their duties according to their faith,” said Erin Smith, assistant advisor at the First Liberty Institute. “The Military Pastor Act of 2025 will equip them with these essential tools, ensuring they can operate without fear of censorship or retaliation.”
Bishop Derek Jones, executive director of the Pastoral Union for Religious Freedom, referred to the bill as “long overdue,” asserting that service members should not be deprived of their constitutionally protected right to practice their religion freely.
