Conduct unbecoming of an officer
The Sanhedrin functioned as the court where Jewish religious disputes were settled. We hear in this Sunday’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles how its members were none too happy that the apostles had ignored their wishesand “filled Jerusalem” with their teaching about Jesus. The White House and U.S. Defense Department have been hearing . . .
The Sanhedrin functioned as the court where Jewish religious disputes were settled. We hear in this Sunday’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles how its members were none too happy that the apostles had ignored their wishes and “filled Jerusalem” with their teaching about Jesus. The White House and U.S. Defense Department have been hearing from lawmakers who are none too happy with an Air Force officer’s decision to set aside a guilty verdict in a sexual assault case.
On Monday Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended military commanders be stripped of their ability to reverse criminal convictions of service members. Hagel will seek legislation requiring that cases go through the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. The change requires congressional action, but lawmakers have already begun looking into the matter in response to the furor over a recent Air Force sexual assault case.
Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, commander of the 3rd Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, overturned the conviction against Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, a former inspector general at Aviano Air Base in Italy, who had been found guilty last November of charges of abusive sexual contact, aggravated sexual assault, and three instances of conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. The incident had involved a civilian employee.
Wilkerson was sentenced to a year in prison and dismissal from the service, but after a review of the case Franklin overturned the conviction. His decision triggered outrage among senators and calls for a new look at the military justice system.
"This decision has turned the military on its ear," said Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri during a hearing last month. She added that Franklin's decision sets the Air Force "all the way back to Tailhook." The 1991 Tailhook scandal rocked the military when Navy pilots were accused of sexually abusing female officers at a Las Vegas convention.
Homily hint: The letter of the law is never enough; it is the spirit of the law that must be respected, as Jesus taught many times as he both fulfilled and went beyond Jewish Law. Encourage those in attendance always to let the spirit of justice be their guide as they navigate the ethical challenges they meet and choices they must make.
On Monday Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended military commanders be stripped of their ability to reverse criminal convictions of service members. Hagel will seek legislation requiring that cases go through the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. The change requires congressional action, but lawmakers have already begun looking into the matter in response to the furor over a recent Air Force sexual assault case.
Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, commander of the 3rd Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, overturned the conviction against Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, a former inspector general at Aviano Air Base in Italy, who had been found guilty last November of charges of abusive sexual contact, aggravated sexual assault, and three instances of conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. The incident had involved a civilian employee.
Wilkerson was sentenced to a year in prison and dismissal from the service, but after a review of the case Franklin overturned the conviction. His decision triggered outrage among senators and calls for a new look at the military justice system.
"This decision has turned the military on its ear," said Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri during a hearing last month. She added that Franklin's decision sets the Air Force "all the way back to Tailhook." The 1991 Tailhook scandal rocked the military when Navy pilots were accused of sexually abusing female officers at a Las Vegas convention.
Homily hint: The letter of the law is never enough; it is the spirit of the law that must be respected, as Jesus taught many times as he both fulfilled and went beyond Jewish Law. Encourage those in attendance always to let the spirit of justice be their guide as they navigate the ethical challenges they meet and choices they must make.
Source: An article by Lolita Baldor for the Associated Press