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King, Grassley meet with Walter Reed Officials Regarding Bible ban at Military Hospital
Steve King official ^ | 12/19/2011 | Steve King

Posted on 12/23/2011 2:47:59 AM PST by iowamark

Congressman Steve King and Senator Chuck Grassley met with senior leadership of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center yesterday to discuss a recent memo released by the Medical Center prohibiting the use and distribution of Bibles and other religious materials during visits to wounded soldiers. After receiving the memo on December 2nd, King called Vice Admiral John Mateczun, Commander of the Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, and Rear Admiral Alton Stocks, Commander of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, to Capitol Hill. King and Grassley were informed that the memo was worded improperly, that the Medical Center has rescinded the memo, and that a new memo will be drafted to affirmatively assert that religious items and artifacts are welcome in the hospital, if they are welcomed by the patient. King and Grassley released the following statements after the meeting:

"The meeting with Vice Admiral Mateczun, Rear Admiral Stocks, and Senator Grassley was productive because the Walter Reed staff has agreed to write a new rule that affirms a visitor's ability to bring Bibles and other religious material when they visit," King said. "I have asked to look over the new rule before it's officially released and that they identify the individual who is responsible for writing this unconstitutional nonsense."

"The Defense Department appears to have acted in good faith by retracting the original statement and releasing a statement of regret. I appreciate that officials are making efforts to get to the bottom of how this horrible language came about," Grassley said. "I look forward to seeing the new policy and will reserve judgment until that time."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: steveking; walterreed
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Water Reed rewriting policy on religious items
"Visitors guidelines at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., are being revised after an Iowa congressman complained Dec. 2 that the rules kept family members, priests, ministers and others from bringing Bibles, rosaries or other religious materials to patients.

A section of the guidelines designed to protect patients from proselytizers was rescinded last week after Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, discussed it on the House floor, asserting it violated the First Amendment protecting free exercise of religion..."

Video: Steve King on House floor discussing Walter Reed

Video: Congressman Steve King on Fox & Friends discussing Walter Reed Bible Ban - 12/6/2011


1 posted on 12/23/2011 2:48:06 AM PST by iowamark
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To: iowamark

Congratulations again to the heroic Steve King!


2 posted on 12/23/2011 2:50:21 AM PST by iowamark
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To: iowamark

Sounds partly like some faceless bureaucratic nerd afraid of atheists and Moose again who would not wish to get certain religious items while there. But even that doesn’t explain why they would want to ban “family members” from bringing religious items to their relatives in the hospital. And why did it have to need Congress to fix the problem.


3 posted on 12/23/2011 2:56:10 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: iowamark

No Bibles allowed in a hospital? Whoa!


4 posted on 12/23/2011 3:06:06 AM PST by Youaskedforit
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To: iowamark

I’m convinced that they used the words “the memo was poorly worded” to mean “Oh crap, we got caught!”.


5 posted on 12/23/2011 3:18:53 AM PST by PalmettoMason ("The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.")
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To: PalmettoMason
**DING DING DING** We have a winner!

But by all means, they should hold the Defense Department's feet to the fire and IDENTIFY who the twinkle-toed, atheistic sonuvabitch is who created that garbage memo in the first place.

NAME 'EM AND SHAME 'EM!!!!
6 posted on 12/23/2011 3:25:00 AM PST by mkjessup (Jimmy Carter is the Skidmark in the panties of American history, 0bama is the yellow stain in front.)
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To: mkjessup
you know, when I stand on my head, the world looks ‘alright’.....however, after a minute or two, the blood in my skull will make my brain explode.

Just remember, its just ‘work place violence, or an overseas contingency crap saying’......0bamammy must go.

On the other hand....God Bless and Merry Christmas.

7 posted on 12/23/2011 3:33:41 AM PST by redshawk (0pansy is a Liar)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks iowamark.


8 posted on 12/23/2011 3:35:07 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! May 2013 be even Happier!)
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To: mkjessup

This is not an isolated case. Houston National Cemetery Director, Ms. Arlene Ocasio, prohibited grieving families from using the words “God” or “Jesus” at funeral ceremonies. The Walter Reed memo was approved by the commander of Walter Reed. It states, “No religious items (i.e. Bibles, reading material, and/or artifacts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit.” Public Affairs Officer Sandy Dean claims these instructions have been rescinded because they did not, “articulate our initial intention which was to respect religious and cultural practices of our patients.” The instructions were “misinterpreted” because they were “ambiguous.”


9 posted on 12/23/2011 3:41:42 AM PST by Vehmgericht
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To: iowamark; Iowa Granny

Congressman King for Speaker of the House.

Boehner’s mouth wash just ain’t cutting it.


10 posted on 12/23/2011 3:43:36 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine's brother (Near term Obamacare 'Unit")
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To: iowamark
A simple question for the Army: "what part of 'or prohibiting the free exercise thereof' don't you understand?"
11 posted on 12/23/2011 4:25:57 AM PST by NonValueAdded ("At a time like this, we can't afford the luxury of thinking!")
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To: Youaskedforit; All

Did they ban the Koran?


12 posted on 12/23/2011 4:33:46 AM PST by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: iowamark
" ... if they are welcomed by the patient.

When I was led to Jesus in 1981, had I been asked first, I would have said something like, "No thanks, I gave at the office" or some simular flippant remark.

Instead, I was hit with a reality board upside my head and lovingly forced to look in a mirror and then at Christ.

I thank the Messianic Jew that led this non-practicing Catholic goy to Jesus.

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

13 posted on 12/23/2011 5:04:15 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: iowamark

Violating the First Amendment at a U.S. military hospital. This country went to hell quick once the Soetoro regime rose to power.


14 posted on 12/23/2011 5:22:05 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Stop BIG Government Greed Now!!!!)
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To: knarf

What a blessed testimony. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m so glad you accepted His gift.


15 posted on 12/23/2011 5:24:18 AM PST by grame (May you know more of the love of God Almighty this day!)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

It did and the worst is yet to come.


16 posted on 12/23/2011 5:25:43 AM PST by sport
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To: iowamark

I agree— but add the Ban— and the immediate retraction —seeming in good faith— (the question being —if the retraction was a good faith effort—to remedy an error—what was the initial effort?) But the whole SNAFU —like the repeal of DADT— and the most recent claim by the Capitol Police that a Preacher reading the Christmas story from the Bible and placing an ornament reflecting the Nativity on the Capitol Christmas Tree somehow presents a “prohibited demonstration” these are but symptoms of the same cancer that was introduced when we the people did not demand that damned divisive Wall of separation erected by the supreme Court in 1947 be torn down. A house divided against itself cannot stand.”


17 posted on 12/23/2011 5:29:12 AM PST by StonyBurk (ring)
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To: grame
"I’m so glad you accepted His gift."

Not as much as I am.

Merry Christmas

18 posted on 12/23/2011 5:31:22 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: grame

PS ... go ahead NOW and post your home page.


19 posted on 12/23/2011 5:41:03 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

“And why did it have to need Congress to fix the problem.”

Exactly....good question, HiTech. The most problematic work to be undone by, hopefully, the next administration will be to remove all those hired and appointed by this agendized administration. Government offices in DC and around the country have been filled by people who are either incapable or who actively promote that same anti-Anerican “vision.” This includes the military.

...and I don’t think people fully understand yet.....just how many such people that includes.


20 posted on 12/23/2011 5:55:35 AM PST by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified Decartes))
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