[xzins]

I did what a good chaplain is supposed to do, and what a Catholic chaplain would do for me: I applied the rules of general versus direct support.

To Catholics I would have given general support on issues of faith and worship, and to Methodists, in particular, I would have had the authority to provide direct religious support.

An interesting case that came up during the invasion of Panama was a young man from the 82nd (Larry Cerano) who was seriously wounded, being readied for surgery, and requesting a chaplain. Larry was a Catholic, but the only Catholic chaplain was across the isthmus and totally unavailable. At that point, in that operating room, there was only one chaplain present to pray for him....me.

What would you have done?

[Petronski]

I did what a good chaplain is supposed to do, and what a Catholic chaplain would do for me: I applied the rules of general versus direct support.

Did you tell that young soldier you knew is faith was a fraud, or did you conceal your contempt for his faith?