Naval officer Michael Izbicki has twice been denied an honorable discharge because the U.S. Navy rejected his assertion that he is a conscientious objector. Hailing from a family with a history of military service, Izbicki came to conclude that his Christian beliefs prevented him from going to war and killing others—but the Navy doubted the ensign’s sincerity because they wrongly asserted that his belief in Christ was out of step with also being a Quaker.

 

“Displaying a lack of knowledge about Quaker worship and belief, the Navy’s investigating officer asserted that Quakers do not believe in Jesus Christ, and even likened the Quakers to a Jim Jones-like cult,” wrote the American Civilian Liberties Union, which is petitioning a federal court to hear Izbicki’s case. “The Navy rejected Ensign Izbicki’s commitment to and worship with the Westerly, Rhode Island Friends Meeting because the Navy erroneously believed that Ensign Izbicki, as a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ, would not sincerely worship with the Quakers.”

 

Five members of the clergy (two military and three civilian), along with two academic theologians, have said they believe Izbicki is telling the truth about his religious opposition to war.

 

A 2008 graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Izbichi was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, South Carolina. While there, he came to the conclusion that he could not, in good conscience, launch a nuclear missile. In his application for conscientious objector status, Izbicki wrote, “I believe that Jesus Christ calls all men to love each other, under all circumstances. I believe his teaching forbids the use of violence. I take the sermon on the mount literally.” Originally a supporter of the concept of “just war,” Izbicki began to change his beliefs after he read the book Choosing Against War: A Christian Viewby John Roth.

 

Izbicki has declined promotion to lieutenant and has offered to reimburse the Navy for the education he has received.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

ACLU-CT Petitions to Protect Right to Free Exercise of Religion (American Civil Liberties Union)

Michael Izbicki v. Ray Mabus (U.S. District Court, Connecticut) (pdf)