On Friday, the Pentagon released an updated, simplified list of religious “codes” that military chaplains could draw on when providing services to service members.
While denominations like Lutheran, Baptist and Presbyterian were categorized as “Christian,” one group was notably excluded from that designation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
MAGA Republicans who are Mormon were furious at the omission, most notably President Donald Trump ally Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).
“I find this offensive, not just because that happens to be my faith, not just because it happens to the faith of tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel, but it’s also just repugnant to any sense of decency, any sense of our common heritage and our common belief that the government needs to not weigh in on doctrinal disputes between various religious denominations,” Lee said in a video posted to X before directly addressing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
“I’m imploring people at the Pentagon to reconsider this, not just reconsider it but undo it,” he said. “Secretary Hegseth, tear down that wall. This is not cool. Get rid of it. Get rid of it now!”
