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Military archdiocese objects to Catholic 'extremist' label
cna ^ | April 9, 2013

Posted on 04/10/2013 3:45:47 AM PDT by NYer

U.S. Army chaplain Fr. Carl Subler celebrates Mass for soldiers in Badula Qulp in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2010. Credit: USAF/Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez.

Washington D.C., Apr 9, 2013 / 04:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services has said it is “astounded” at a U.S. Army Reserve training brief that listed Catholics alongside “violent and extremist” groups.

“The archdiocese calls upon the Department of Defense to review these materials and to ensure that taxpayer funds are never again used to present blatantly anti-religious material to the men and women in uniform,” the archdiocese said April 4.

In its statement, the archdiocese noted that an investigation and reply from the Army Chief of Chaplains office said the training “appears to have been an isolated incident not condoned by the Department of the Army.”

The presentation, titled “Extremism & Extremist Organizations,” discussed religious extremism in a presentation that covered militias, neo-Nazis, Islamic extremism, terrorism and gangs.

One slide, titled “Religious Extremism,” listed Catholicism and Evangelical Christianity along with groups including Al Qaida, Hamas and the Ku Klux Klan.

The presentation described extremism as a “complex phenomenon” defined by beliefs, attitudes or feelign “far removed from the 'ordinary.'” It said religious extremism is not limited to any religion, ethnic group or region.

“Every religion has some followers that believe that their beliefs, customs and traditions are the only 'right way' and that all others are practicing their faith the 'wrong way,' seeing and believing that their faith/religion (is) superior to all others,” the slide said.

The presentation cited sources such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League and some of its language appeared to be taken from the website Wikipedia.

The Army removed the slide after complaints.

A U.S. Army spokesperson told the Washington Times that the presentation was produced by an individual without the knowledge or permission of anyone in the chain of command.

The person who created the presentation “was not a subject matter expert and produced the material after conducting internet research,” the spokesperson said.

The presentation also drew criticism from the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a non-denominational group of military chaplains..

The archdiocese said it and the Chaplain Alliance told the Army that it “can and should take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.”

The Archdiocese for Military Services has endorsed priests at more than 220 U.S. military installations in 29 countries, serving an estimated 1.8 million Catholics worldwide.


TOPICS: Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: army
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1 posted on 04/10/2013 3:45:47 AM PDT by NYer
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; SumProVita; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 04/10/2013 3:46:29 AM PDT by NYer (Beware the man of a single book - St. Thomas Aquinas)
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To: NYer
Something doesn't smell right about this whole mess: since when does a single individual - no name, no rank, no unit - compose a briefing on a controversial subject without anyone else in the chain of command reviewing it before it sees the light of day?

All of my experience in the service tells me that this particular slide was no accident and that the whole briefing was approved by some senior leaders and the army is covering up who was involved.

Best guess? Gays. The gay linkages can permeate whole strings of people within commands and since they included evangelicals and Catholics - who appropriately consider homosexuality unnatural and their activity sinful - this indicates to me that this what we're looking at.

3 posted on 04/10/2013 4:03:01 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Chainmail

Obama announced his war against Catholicism when he and his fluffer Sebelius insisted on making Catholics pay for Birth Control pills.

Catholics protested and became terrorists to Obama and his administration at that time.

Anyone or anything that oposes Obama is a terrorist to him,in his mind,but you notice he loves CAIR.


4 posted on 04/10/2013 4:26:32 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Venturer

...and yet Catholics voted for him in droves....!


5 posted on 04/10/2013 4:41:46 AM PDT by swampfox101 (l)
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To: swampfox101

No. Apostates voted for him in droves.

No true Catholic voted for Obama.


6 posted on 04/10/2013 4:49:47 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Venturer

Bump!


7 posted on 04/10/2013 5:48:16 AM PDT by bayouranger (The 1st victim of islam is the person who practices the lie.)
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To: Venturer

LOL...! I ain’t going there....!!!!! But, I do know what u meant....!


8 posted on 04/10/2013 6:19:59 AM PDT by swampfox101 (l)
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To: Chainmail
My guess is this originated with some local level indoctrination, I mean EEO rep getting carried away. I have seen other local reps do similar with other topice and called them out on it.
9 posted on 04/10/2013 6:36:39 AM PDT by Gamecock ("Ultimately, Jesus died to save us from the wrath of God." —R.C. Sproul)
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To: Gamecock
"My guess is this originated with some local level indoctrination"

I don't think so - if it were just some local EEO type, the army command structure would be all over this and that individual would probably be looking at an Article 32 investigation.

The fact that the army didn't immediately jump on this and the perpetrator is still unknown suggests that a "protected group" is involved.

10 posted on 04/10/2013 7:02:42 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: NYer
“Every religion has some followers that believe that their beliefs, customs and traditions are the only 'right way' and that all others are practicing their faith the 'wrong way,' seeing and believing that their faith/religion (is) superior to all others,” the slide said.

NO!!! [/sarcasm]

11 posted on 04/10/2013 8:29:03 AM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Ki-hagoy vehamamlakhah 'asher lo'-ya`avdukh yove'du; vehagoyim charov yecheravu!)
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To: Chainmail

Yes...Not only that, but there were spelling errors on that slide, indicating it was put together by an “unofficial” source. How can that happen in the military? I thought they had rules and regs that went on forever.


12 posted on 04/10/2013 10:46:15 AM PDT by left that other site (Worry is the darkroom that developes negatives.)
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To: Venturer; swampfox101
I'm sorry, Venturer, but that's what's known as a "true Scotsman" argument:

Actually, Catholics overall voted for Obama in almost exactly the same proportions as all other American voters, neither more nor less. I know some who did, in my parish. I thought they were ou of their flippin minds. Their usual excuse was that the didn't trust the Republicans. Frankly, I don't trust the Repblicans myself, but I thought they ought to have seen Obama was much worse. At least they should have voted for Ron Paul, or abstained from voting at all.

But there's no reasoning with some people.

13 posted on 04/10/2013 12:06:45 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He turn to you His countenance, and give you peace.)
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To: xzins

**The presentation also drew criticism from the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a non-denominational group of military chaplains..**

Ping for your list.


14 posted on 04/10/2013 12:15:03 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Gamecock

Hi Gamecock,

I agree. This is not only local level, it is also Reserve.

That means it was probably put together for a one hour block as part of someone’s once a month, weekend training.


15 posted on 04/10/2013 12:25:10 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

AGREE...!


16 posted on 04/10/2013 12:26:58 PM PDT by swampfox101 (l)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

There are many kinds of Catholics.

Holiday Catholics=Twice a year Christmas and New years
Cafeteria Catholics=Pick and choose what parts of the religion they wish to adhere too

Then there are those somewhere in between, and then there are Democrat Catholics.=Their real religion is the democrat party, but unfortunately before Obama the democrat party did not have a diety. Now that obama has changed that,they consider him a Diety and gave up on Jesus Christ and his teachings. Some still go to Church , like Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, but its all part of their political show.They are looking for the Catholic vote.


17 posted on 04/10/2013 1:14:52 PM PDT by Venturer
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To: Mrs. Don-o; Venturer; swampfox101
Actually, Catholics overall voted for Obama in almost exactly the same proportions as all other American voters, neither more nor less.

On one hand, that fact destroys the false notion that there is a unified "The Catholic Vote" which is always for the leftist democRat.

On the other hand, that fact is appalling. There should be a strongly unified Catholic Vote aligned with economic freedom and personal morality.

18 posted on 04/10/2013 1:20:59 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: NYer

Looks like the time for choosing sides is upon us.


19 posted on 04/10/2013 1:32:20 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: Venturer

For some it is a tribal indentity. They view it as their duty as a Catholic to vote Democrate. My wife’s family is that way.


20 posted on 04/10/2013 1:33:51 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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