Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches v. United States Navy

Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge TATEL.

TATEL, Circuit Judge:

In this case, military chaplains, all “non-liturgical Protestants,” allege that the Navy systematically discriminates against members of their religious denominations in the awarding of promotions in violation of “[t]he clearest command of the Establishment Clause ... that one religious denomination cannot be officially preferred over another.” Larson v. Valente, 456 U.S. 228, 244, 102 S.Ct. 1673, 72 L.Ed.2d 33 (1982). The district court denied plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, concluding that they lacked…