Posted on 11/11/2011 4:29:10 PM PST by MDJohnPaul
In a Veterans Day homily at St. Paul in Ellicott City, Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spencer of the Archdiocese for U.S. Military Services challenged Catholics to never forget the needs of the nation’s veterans.
“We must not ignore the silent suffering of over 23 million American veterans who are suffering from substance abuse, family breakdowns, domestic violence, homelessness (and) suicide rates that continue to rise,” said Bishop Spencer, a former priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore who served as pastor of Western Maryland’s St. Peter the Apostle in Oakland.
“Although only 7 percent of Americans have ever served in the military, over 21 percent of today’s suicides come from the veteran community,” Bishop Spencer said. “The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that veterans make up about one-fifth of the homeless population here in America. We must provide better care for them.”
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicreview.org ...
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