Religion Roundup
Christian Soldier Ruled a Conscientious Objector
Associated Press
September 24, 2008
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A soldier who says he experienced a religious awakening in Iraq is a step closer to being granted conscientious objector status and an honorable discharge.
A federal judge in Alaska is siding with Private-First-Class Michael Barnes. He had told the Army that his religious experience two years ago left him opposed to war in any form.
Judge John Sedwich ruled that military investigators failed to prove that Barnes' religious objections to war were insincere. Barnes enlisted in the Army in March 2005 and arrived in Iraq in September 2006. Soldiers in his unit testified that he devoted much of his spare time to reading the Bible.
It's not clear if the Army will file an appeal. An Army spokesman declined to comment.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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