Army silences chaplain after prayer criticism

The Washington Times ^ | 2-14-06 | Julia Duin

[JZelle]

An evangelical chaplain serving in Iraq has been forbidden to preach at chapel services after his comments about military intolerance toward certain Christian expressions got him into hot water with the Army. Capt. Jonathan Stertzbach, a field artillery chaplain with the Army's 10th Mountain Division in Iraq, was silenced soon after his comments appeared in a Jan. 23 article in The Washington Times. The chaplain criticized one of his supervisors, Lt. Col. Phillip Wright of Fort Drum in New York, by name and gave details about how chaplains of all faiths were being pressured to offer up only nonsectarian prayers. Contacted in Iraq yesterday by The Times, Capt. Stertzbach confirmed he had been silenced.

[ladtx]

The chaplain criticized one of his supervisors, Lt. Col. Phillip Wright of Fort Drum in New York, by name and gave details...

LTC Wright is not a "supervisor" he is a superior. A big time military no-no.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Not a very bright thing to do in the US Military. These are "superior officers", not just "supervisors", and they own his a$$, for as long as he's in there.

[joesnuffy]

You dont have to respect the man but you must repsect the rank.

It was against the rules to do what the Chaplain did...if he had a problem he must go through channels...

If not resolved and he cannot live with the results...time to take a discharge and work for change from the outside...

As his or her conscience dictates

Unless of course we are talking 'criminality'...but we arent.

imo

[MortMan]

Consider that, as a chaplain, he answers to a higher authority than just the officers in command over him? Chaplains are somewhat unique in the military, IMO.

[colorado tanker]

I suppose this guy didn't know when he became a Protestant chaplain that he would be expected to minister to Protestants of all denominations?

[ladtx]

Chaplains are somewhat unique in the military, IMO.

True. However they must still adhere to military protocol. Whining in a piece in the Washington Times is not included in that protocol.

[MindBender26]

Chaplains must be there for all the troops, not just for one faith.

The RC Sky Pilot at 12th Evac in Cu Chi was a great guy. He cared for a group of geese. Called them his "faithful flock."

Even though he called me a "Heathen Protestant" (with a smile). his rug work must have had a lot of Mojo with the Almighty. Got me through two surgeries there.

[Gamecock]

What say you Chappy?

[sure_fine]

he needs to accept that things in the Army 'are not' open for discussion

[MineralMan]

Uh, you don't go out of the chain of command. That's rule one in the military. This guy broke the rule. Tough!

[MineralMan]

"I suppose this guy didn't know when he became a Protestant chaplain that he would be expected to minister to Protestants of all denominations?"

Actually, it goes way beyond that. He might well be expected to minister to Catholics, Jews, and even Muslims as a military chaplain. Comes with the territory.

[sean327]

"Consider that, as a chaplain, he answers to a higher authority than just the officers in command over him? Chaplains are somewhat unique in the military, IMO."

Chaplains are still held to the same standard regarding chain of command as any other member of the Armed Forces. Your argument doesn't wash. He screwed the pooch on this and he knows it.

[colorado tanker]

Comes with the territory.

Yep. He should find another line of work.

[protest1]

"In the interview in The Times that provoked the Army's wrath, Capt. Stertzbach cited a Dec. 17 memorial service for a soldier at which he was asked to pray.
When he told one chaplain he intended to pray in the name of Jesus Christ, he was stricken from the service program. A senior officer had to intervene to allow Capt. Stertzbach a time in the service to pray as he wished."

I think you will find that Catholics or Methodists would have no objection to praying in Jesus Christ's name. I doubt that a Christian chaplain would be asked to officiate at a Jewish service and frankly who cares what the muslims might think.

[protest1]

see post 16 to mineral man, same applies. This is nothing to do with protestant chaplains. It is about being forbidden to pray in Jesus name. I can't see any Christian denomination objecting to that, but apparently the US Army does.

[YOUGOTIT]

One cannot criticize their superior officer. A crime that carries a large punishment. They can file a complaint with his superior but one never has the authority to criticize in public ones superior.

Bad idea to violate the UCMJ.

[MineralMan]

Memorial services are attended by all kinds of soldiers. The rule in the military for chaplains is that such services are to be done in a non-denominational way. That is the rule. The military is not this guy's hometown church.

In public services like this one, where members of any faith might attend, services are done non-denominationally.

[protest1]

Contacted in Iraq yesterday by The Times, Capt. Stertzbach confirmed he had been silenced. "I am not allowed to talk to anyone right now," he said. "There are no hard feelings, and I have to leave it at that."

I am sure he knew that and knew the consequences and accepts them. But when an officer in the US Army orders you not to pray in the name of Jesus Christ then that officer should be named and shamed.