Gordon Klingenschmitt

Gordon Klingenschmitt
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 15th district
Assumed office
January 2015
Preceded by Mark Waller
Personal details
Born c. 1968
Political party Republican
Alma mater United States Air Force Academy
Regent University
Website Gordon for Colorado
Military service
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
United States Navy
Rank Lieutenant

Gordon James Klingenschmitt (born c. 1968) is a former American military chaplain and elected official. A Republican, he is the member to the Colorado House of Representatives for the 15th district.

Career

Klingenschmitt graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a bachelor's degree in political science and from Regent University with a master's degree in divinity, a master's of business administration, and a doctor of philosophy in theology.[1] He served in the United States Navy as a military chaplain.

Klingenschmitt served continuously on active duty in both Air Force and Navy for over 20 years and was honorably discharged.[2] Klingenschmitt demanded his own court-martial in protest of a restrictive prayer policy about Chaplains' freedom to pray at a public event while wearing their Navy uniform. The Navy court-martialed Klingenschmitt in 2006. He was found guilty (Congress later rescinded the same policy SECNAVINST 1730.7C which had been enforced against Klingenschmitt, restoring rights for Chaplains.[3]), and punished with a reprimand and by having his pay docked by 5%.[4] Klingenschmitt sued in Federal Court claiming discrimination and a violation of his free speech rights. Judge Elaine D. Kaplan dismissed the case, ruling that he had the right to attend a protest but not to do so in uniform against a direct order; she also noted that the Navy had found him unsuited for further service.[5] Klingenschmitt promised to appeal the ruling.[5]

Klingenschmitt hosts a national TV show PIJN NEWS that airs weekdays via Satellite on the National Religious Broadcasters network. His web-site called "The Pray In Jesus Name Project" has helped deliver 5 million petitions to Congress for religious freedom, anti-abortion, and anti-gay marriage causes. Klingenschmitt variously refers to himself as a college professor or a part-time college professor and says he serves as affiliate faculty at Colorado Christian University in the division of Biblical Studies. Understandably, his name is not one of the few appearing among the small selection of "spotlighted" full-time, affiliate or adjunct faculty listed on the university's website. According to an allegation by Klingenschmitt's critics in the group Colorado Government Watch, the university wrote an email confirming "that he has taught classes for Colorado Christian University in the past, but is not teaching at the present time and is not scheduled for future classes."[6]

Klingenschmitt ran for the 15th district seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in the 2014 elections. He received 70% of the vote in the general election to win the seat.[7] Also in 2014 Klingenschmitt said he received death threats, and a suspect was arrested for sending harassing messages.[8]

Political and social views

During a 2005 appearance on MSNBC, Klingenschmitt noted that although he was at the time a chaplain paid by the Navy to talk to sailors about religion, the Navy no longer permitted him to use the name "Jesus" within those conversations or prayers. [9] However, Islamic chaplains are not forbidden to pray to Allah, Jewish rabbis may make references to Hanukkah, and Catholic priests are permitted to refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.[10] During a 2012 appearance on The David Pakman Show, Klingenschmitt debated Jonathan Phelps, of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church.[11][12] Klingenschmitt is also known for his efforts to shut down the YouTube channel of one of his most vocal critics, Right Wing Watch, which uses video clips of his statements.[13]

In 2012, Michael L. Weinstein sued Klingenschmitt for issuing an imprecatory prayer that he equated to a fatwa. The suit was dismissed by the judge, who stated that Weinstein failed to connect the prayer to any subsequent threats or actions against him.[14]

In 2014, Klingenschmitt said Colorado Representative Jared Polis, who is gay, wanted to execute Christians; both political parties in Colorado have disavowed Klingenschmitt.[15] Klingenschmitt has also compared President Barack Obama to a demon and claims that Obamacare can cause cancer.[16]

In March 2015, in response to an assault where a woman from Longmont, Colorado, had her 34-week-old fetus cut out of her womb,[17] said the incident was the result of the "curse of God" for abortion. Other Republicans denounced Klingenschmitt's comments.[18] As a result, Klingenschmitt was removed from the Health, Insurance and Environment Committee, and he suspended his television ministry for six weeks.[19]

In July 2015, Klingenschmitt responded to the Boy Scouts of America lifting their ban on gay scoutmasters by saying that this would lead to an increase in child molestation in the organization.[20][21] In August 2015 he reportedly stated that gays and pedophiles are possessed by different demons.[22]

Controversy over charity

In September 2015, the organization Colorado Government Watch filed a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, calling on the agency to use its authority under the Colorado Charitable Solicitations Act to investigate Klingenschmitt's tax-exempt charity, Persuade The World Ministries, doing business as Pray in Jesus Name.[23] Pray in Jesus Name, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation whose only officer is Klingenschmitt, took in more than $850,000 in tax-deductible contributions in 2014, according to the charity's tax returns for that year.[24] The complaint asked the agency to examine whether the charity solicited and collected contributions while its charitable status was under suspension by the secretary of state for several months in 2014 and 2015.[25] Klingenschmitt acknowledged in subsequent media reports that his charity did solicit and collect donations during the suspension but contended it occurred only in two instances and that the donors in those cases "...both are happy and declined our offer to refund their money."[26][27]

In January 2016, Colorado Government Watch filed a complaint with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, seeking an investigation and audit of Pray In Jesus Name to determine if it was operating in compliance with its tax-exempt, tax-deductible status.[28] The watchdog group cited "deficiencies, discrepancies and irregularities" that it said turned up in the charity's Form 990 tax returns as well as in the way it operated.[29] Among the concerns raised in the complaint to the IRS was that the charity's tax returns displayed "troubling inconsistencies as well as a basic disregard for transparency and accountability to the organization’s own donors and prospective donors."[30] The complaint concludes similarity between the religious and political divisions of Klingenschmitt's website and so alleges, despite multiple clear markings, that it "...appears to have blurred the lines between his nonprofit organization and a for-profit corporation he operates," Delaware corporation GJK, Inc.[31] Klingenschmitt has not directly addressed the allegations publicly in detail, but in an interview two months later with The Colorado Springs Gazette, he defended his charity's financial practices and maintained "there's no connection whatsoever" between his for-profit and his nonprofit operations.[32]

At least one other complaint has been filed with the IRS against Klingenschmitt's nonprofit, by the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in 2010, alleging Klingenschmitt illegally used the charity's nonprofit status to engage in electioneering communications.[33]

References

  1. ↑ "Klingenschmitt, Fornander offer 'extremes' on both ends in House District 15 race". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ U.S. Navy. "Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty" (PDF). prayinjesusname.org. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ Walker, Ken (January 16, 2007). "Navy chaplain ousted on grounds overturned by Congress". bpnews.net. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Navy Chaplain Guilty Of Disobeying an Order". washingtonpost.com. September 14, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Gallagher, John (December 3, 2014). "Federal Court Tells GOP Legislator The Navy Was Right To Can Him For Unprofessional Behavior". queerty.com. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  6. ↑ "'Professor' no more? University says Klingenschmitt not on faculty | Colorado Government Watch". cogovwatch.com. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  7. ↑ "Election night in Colorado exciting, if anti-climactic". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Newly elected Klingenschmitt opens up about death threats". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  9. ↑ 'The Situation with Tucker Carlson', MSNBC, 12/22/05
  10. ↑ The Washington Times, 12/21/05
  11. ↑ Wong, Curtis (November 29, 2012). "Anti-Gay Pundits Come To Surprisingly Different Conclusions On The LGBT Community". Huffington Post.
  12. ↑ "'God Hates Fags' Church & Anti-Gay Navy Chaplain Debate, Agree on NOTHING". YouTube. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  13. ↑ "How Did a Conservative Colorado Preacher Get YouTube to Shut Down His Liberal Critics?". www.nationaljournal.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Praying for God to hurt someone is not illegal, judge rules". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Colorado candidate claims Rep. Jared Polis wants to execute Christians". The Spot. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ "El Paso County GOP candidate Klingenschmitt compares Obama to demon". denverpost.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Longmont 911 tape shows woman pleading for help after baby cut from womb". denverpost.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  18. ↑ "GOP aghast at Klingenschmitt's act-of-God comment in baby's death". denverpost.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Klingenschmitt loses committee post, suspends ministry for six weeks". denverpost.com. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Colo. GOP asked to denounce Klingenschmitt for saying gay Scout leaders will molest children". 7NEWS. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  21. ↑ GOP comdemns Klingenschmitt's comments about gay boy scout, denverpost.com; accessed August 25, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Klingenschmitt speech on gays and pedophiles on YouTube". Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Complaint, call for inquiry filed with state against Klingenschmitt's tax-exempt charity | Colorado Government Watch". cogovwatch.com. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  24. ↑ "Addendum C" (PDF).
  25. ↑ "Complaint, call for inquiry filed with state against Klingenschmitt's tax-exempt charity | Colorado Government Watch". cogovwatch.com. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  26. ↑ "Watch group files complaint against Klingenschmitt, politician is unfazed". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  27. ↑ "Pastor blaster". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  28. ↑ "Complaint filed with IRS seeks probe, audit of Klingenschmitt's tax-exempt charity | Colorado Government Watch". cogovwatch.com. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  29. ↑ "IRS complaint".
  30. ↑ "IRS complaint".
  31. ↑ "IRS complaint".
  32. ↑ "Colorado Springs' Rep. Klingenschmitt discusses finances of his nonprofit, for-profit enterprises". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  33. ↑ "CREW complaint to IRS" (PDF).
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