Utah senators question Pentagon designation for Latter-day Saints
Curtis called the characterization unacceptable and said he was working to ensure it is corrected.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYDeseret News is an established regional news organization with an identifiable newsroom and author. Its local-news source type supports a solid credibility assessment, though it is not a major wire service or national newspaper of record.
- Source type — Established regional newspaper reporting on a Utah-focused story.
- Author attribution — The article names its reporter.
- Transparency — The publisher and article URL are identifiable; the article attributes key claims to named speakers and the church website.
The article attributes the senators’ comments, cites the church’s own description of its faith, and includes the Pentagon’s rationale. The Pentagon response explains the category change but does not directly address the senators’ specific concern about the Christian designation.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents the senators’ objections, the church’s stated identity and the Pentagon’s explanation. The Pentagon response addresses the purpose of reducing categories but not the specific omission raised by the senators.
- Counterarguments presented — The Pentagon’s stated rationale is included alongside the senators’ objections.
- Source diversity — The report draws on lawmakers, the church’s website and a Pentagon spokesman.
- Omitted context — The Pentagon does not directly explain why the church was left out of the Christian category.
The article reports the senators’ criticism and the Pentagon’s explanation in restrained language, without endorsing either position.
- Language tone — Mostly neutral wording; the critical characterization is attributed to Curtis.
- Source selection — Includes statements from both Utah senators, the church’s website and the Pentagon’s spokesman.
- Framing — Presents the classification dispute and the Pentagon’s stated purpose without an editorial verdict.
Utah Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis questioned the Pentagon’s decision to list the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints separately from faiths labeled Christian. Curtis called the characterization unacceptable and said he was working to secure a correction; the Pentagon said the revised categories are intended to simplify chaplains’ work, not judge any faith’s legitimacy.
The Pentagon reduced its religious-affiliation categories for service members from more than 200 to 31. The updated list includes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a religious category but does not include it among faiths labeled Christian. Mike Lee questioned the omission, while John Curtis called it unacceptable and said he was working to have it corrected. The church’s website describes it as a Christian church that is neither Catholic nor Protestant.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the changes were intended to help chaplains and religious-support personnel provide spiritual care, not to make claims about the legitimacy of any faith or create an officially approved list of religions. He said the department values the First Amendment and the free exercise of religion.
Community verdict
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People in this story
SWIPE →Utah senator criticizing the Pentagon’s characterization and seeking a correction
Utah senator questioning the Pentagon’s religious-affiliation list
Lee's version of this story ↗Chief Pentagon spokesman explaining the purpose of the revised religious categories
Part of a bigger story
3 OUTLETSThe Pentagon’s initial chaplain faith categories listed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints separately from Christian categories, prompting John Curtis and other Utah lawmakers to object. The Pentagon later revised the categories. Center outlets pair Curtis’s objections with the Pentagon’s explanation of the categories; later coverage also notes that revisions changed labels for other faith groups.
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- OUTLETS
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- AVG CRED
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