A conservative legal institute has filed suit on behalf of the former Naples chaplain who claims the base forced him to resign because of his preaching. The Rutherford Institute asked a federal court to return Philip Veitch, formerly a lieutenant commander, to Navy duty.
Rutherford is a Virginia-based group specializing in civil liberties cases.
It is widely known for supporting Paula Jones in her sexual harassment suit against President Clinton. D.C. The judge assigned to hear it is Thomas Penfield Jackson, the man who ordered the breakup of Microsoft. Veitch claims two other chaplains disapproved of his evangelical messages, leading the base to pressure him to resign or face court-martial. The Navy denies the resignation was forced, and says the case is not about religion. Rather, the service says, Veitch missed duty several times and treated his commander disrespectfully.