"Jesus Name Not to be used by Military Chaplains"
***BUT***
JEWISH CHAPEL BUILT WITH FEDERAL FUNDS AT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY: NO OUTCRY FROM ADL, ACLU or AU
Catholic League president William Donohue commented today about the absence of outcry from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) over the building of a Jewish chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy. From September 16-18, several events will take place at the Naval Academy celebrating the opening of the Commodore Uriah P. Levy Center and Jewish Chapel; formal dedication will take place Sunday. Here is what Donohue had to say:
“The Catholic League understands the central role that religion plays in the lives of most Americans, and it is particularly sensitive to the need for religious expression among our men in women in uniform. That is why we congratulate the Naval Academy for opening the Jewish Center and heartily approve of federal funds being used to build the Jewish chapel. Our problem is with the hypocrites at the ADL, ACLU and AU."
To the applause of the ADL, ACLU and AU, Catholic schools are denied government money for the purchase of maps in the classroom, but the federal government can spend nearly 2 million dollars to build a Jewish chapel at the Naval Academy without a word of protest from any of them. Catholic kids in New York City public schools cannot have a crèche in their classroom but Jewish kids can have a menorah (all to the approval of the ADL), and now a U.S. military building on the grounds of the Naval Academy can display a huge Star of David on its exterior without a peep from any of the church-and-state watchdog groups. Moreover, since 1845 the Naval Academy has had a non-sectarian prayer said before lunch, but the ADL and the ACLU now want it censored; the ADL has even written to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate calling the practice ‘deeply troubling.’
“In other words, prayer rugs can be purchased with federal funds to accommodate suspected Muslim terrorists in Guantanamo Bay, and Jewish chapels can be built with federal monies, but Christian kids can’t sing ‘Silent Night’ in the classroom. Got it everyone?”
Nuff said...
The decision of the courts when the military chaplaincy was challenged was that the chaplaincy was the most reasonable way to accomodate the religious rights of our military who live in a unique environment. There concern was that military members be enabled to fully practice their faith and fully exercise their rights.
On the battlefield, the only way to accomodate this was to have religious persons accompany the military to those places. Since the military is a dangerous AND secretive place, the commanders could not let just anyone accompany them. It had to be someone over whom they exercised control, who could be trusted with knowledge of the movements of and placement of troops.
The chaplain was recognized to be the best solution to the dilemma of having soldiers' religious rights protected.
This was especially relevant because of what we were asking those soldiers to do.....march into the midst of hell on earth and possibly sacrifice their lives. Commanders know that if they don't provide for those religious needs, then they are depriving their soldiers of something as basic as food, clothing, shelter, ammunition, etc. They also know that religious leaders can acquire great power amongst men who are facing death. Would they prefer some camp following outsider weasel his way into such a status?
I have no problem with the military spending on a Jewish chapel or on any of the chapels they have built around the world in their many farflung bases. The situation is entirely different for our military.
Donohue wrongly tries to compare this situation with that of schoolkids in a public school who are living in their home neighborhoods. It is not a valid comparison.
Not to speak against Donohue...I generally agree with the guy, but not on this.