Clip shared by Hegseth featuring pastors asserting that women should be denied the right to vote, as depicted in the video from X
The Associated Press reports on a new development at the Pentagon, with contributions from Mike Pesoli in Washington and Ali Swenson in New York.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to lead a Christian prayer service at the Pentagon during working hours. This marked the first of several such services, led by Potteiger.
The prayer service, held inside the government building, has sparked controversy, with some expressing support while others have raised concerns about Hegseth promoting Christian nationalist ideas. Hegseth's post accompanying the video read: "All of Christ for All of Life."
Hegseth is publicly associated with Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson through his membership in the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a conservative Christian network co-founded by Wilson. Wilson advocates for a Christian and patriarchal society where women submit to their husbands and are excluded from military combat roles. He has expressed extreme views like criminalizing sodomy and rejecting women's suffrage.
Hegseth's support of these views came to public attention when he reposted a video by Wilson's network pastors that argued against women's right to vote, signaling endorsement rather than neutral sharing. The video, originally from CNN, examined Doug Wilson, co-founder of the CREC.
Hegseth's post received over 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell stated that Hegseth is a member of a church affiliated with CREC and appreciates many of Mr. Wilson's writings and teachings.
Wilson's church network spans over 150 congregations worldwide, including a new church in Washington, D.C. This network promotes a strict biblical patriarchy and Christian nationalism, with an agenda opposed to modern women's rights and roles in politics and military.
Brooks Potteiger, Hegseth's associated pastor, expressed his desire for a Christian nation in a recent interview, stating, "I'd like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I'd like to see the world be a Christian world."
Defense Department employees and service members received invitations to the event in their government emails. The controversy surrounding Hegseth's promotion of Christian nationalist ideas and his association with pastors advocating against women's rights continues to garner attention and debate.
- The controversy surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promoting Christian nationalist ideas at the Pentagon has extended to his choice of personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, who led a prayer service within the government building.
- Potteiger's desire for a Christian nation and his association with pastors advocating against women's rights, like Doug Wilson, is causing concern among some Defense Department employees and service members.
- The prayer service, supported by Hegseth's post reading "All of Christ for All of Life," has sparked debates in the realm of general news, with some expressing support while others question its place in politics and its potential implications on women's health and women's roles in war-and-conflicts.
- This controversy also raises questions about the role of religion in government affairs, particularly in the context of immigration policies, health-and-wellness, and women's health, which are traditionally topics of debate in political circles.
- The opposition to modern women's rights and roles in politics and military, as advocated by Wilson's church network, could potentially impact California's diverse population and its ongoing discussions about gender equality and women's rights.
- The focus on this issue has led to discussions on television news channels, with pundits offering their opinions on the intersection of religion, government, and women's rights, and the potential implications for the future of American politics and society.
