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Posted on 02/04/2012 7:59:54 AM PST by NYer
Pres. Obama is at war with the Catholic Church.
On NRO, I read this:
Army Silenced Chaplains Last Sunday
By Kathryn Jean Lopez
February 3, 2012 4:58 P.M.In Catholic churches across the country, parishioners were read letters from the pulpit this weekend from bishops in their diocese about the mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services giving Catholics a year before they’ll be required to start violating their consciences on insurance coverage for contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient drugs. But not in the Army.
A statement released this afternoon — which happens to be the 67th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Dorchester, on which four chaplains lost their lives – from the Archdiocese for Military Services explains:
On Thursday, January 26, Archbishop Broglio emailed a pastoral letter to Catholic military chaplains with instructions that it be read from the pulpit at Sunday Masses the following weekend in all military chapels. The letter calls on Catholics to resist the policy initiative, recently affirmed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, for federally mandated health insurance covering sterilization, abortifacients and contraception, because it represents a violation of the freedom of religion recognized by the U.S. Constitution.
The Army’s Office of the Chief of Chaplains subsequently sent an email to senior chaplains advising them that the Archbishop’s letter was not coordinated with that office and asked that it not be read from the pulpit. The Chief’s office directed that the letter was to be mentioned in the Mass announcements and distributed in printed form in the back of the chapel.
Archbishop Broglio and the Archdiocese stand firm in the belief, based on legal precedent, that such a directive from the Army constituted a violation of his Constitutionally-protected right of free speech and the free exercise of religion, as well as those same rights of all military chaplains and their congregants.
Following a discussion between Archbishop Broglio and the Secretary of the Army, The Honorable John McHugh, it was agreed that it was a mistake to stop the reading of the Archbishop’s letter. Additionally, the line: “We cannot — we will not — comply with this unjust law” was removed by Archbishop Broglio at the suggestion of Secretary McHugh over the concern that it could potentially be misunderstood as a call to civil disobedience.
The AMS did not receive any objections to the reading of Archbishop Broglio’s statement from the other branches of service. [Just the Army.]
So not only were chaplains told not to read the letter, but an Obama administration official edited a pastoral letter . . . with church buy-in?
Didn’t people flee across an ocean-sized pond to be free of this kind of thing?
Lopez also had an update:
An update on the silencing of the chaplains post from earlier: A spokesman for the Army tells National Review Online:
the Army became aware of the Archbishop’s letter last Friday (Jan. 27) and was concerned that the letter contained language that might be misunderstood in a military setting. The Army asked that the letter not be read from the pulpit. Instead, the letter would have been referenced in announcements and made available in the back of the chapel for the faithful, if they wished, as they departed after the Mass. The Army greatly appreciates the Archbishop’s consideration of the military’s perspective and is satisfied with the resolution upon which they agreed.
I’ll grant that a call to disobedience in the military is not good.
However, why just the Army?
What is there about the Army’s culture that is different?
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“What is there about the Army’s culture that is different?”
He says the Navy is focused on the ship, and the Army is focused on the people. The culture variance starts from there.
He was recently in an assignment where the leaders were Navy and the workers were Army. The lack of respect for, and ability to work with, the two cultures made the working environment perfectly awful. Eventually the Naval officer in charge was replaced, but the new officer in charge will have a lot of work on his or her hands.
That is an unfortunate reality and the chaplaincy is doing exactly that. Where else can you get a job as a preacher and make the pay of an O3 or O4, even O5 and not have to worry about what is in the collection this week?
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Very bad decision - destroying freedom of religion and speech in one blow. Anyone who does not see that this administration is quickly becoming a dictatorship needs to get out more.
>Anyone who does not see that this administration is quickly becoming a dictatorship needs to get out more.<
.
Wait until Catholic priests are forced to witness same-sex marriages. Yet I know Catholics who belong to the 52% who voted for Obama the first time around and will do so again.
And, by the way, they’re not Hispanics.
Most of the recent immigrants from Mexico are not Catholic. They are either Protestant or JW.
This Administration and probably some of the Generals in charge may see things like that...but I know MANY Chaplains who are dedicated, uncompromising, biblical Christians.
It's a very difficult situation to be in...a minister of God...under orders of humans, not necessarily on your side.
Chaplains really need our prayers to be uncompromising, especially under this godless presidency.
What's your evidence for that? Mexico itself is over 85% Roman Catholic (in one form or another...). I'm sure the immigrants are as well.
Obama Receives 77% of Jewish Vote-- More Than Kerry
White US Catholics move toward GOP, Hispanic Catholics toward Democrats
Among Catholics, Obama job approval rating decreases to 50 percent
You are so right. It is an extraordinary and unexpected experience to drive around south Phoenix and find shopping centers peppered with little Protestant store front churches with all of the signs and information written in Spanish.
I talked to the staff in my dentist's office as well as some people who attend Catholic churches in the area (all or mostly Hispanic)and they say that most of the more recent immigrants have been members of evangelical churches and had been baptized atholic were/are the product of some heavy missionary attention given to Mexicans in Mexico.
The attraction is the important positions that many may attain in the small churches as well as the fellowship that is emphasized. They also mention the fact that it is comforting to say "I believe and am saved".
correction:second para,last part of sentence:Catholic and were and are the product of heavy missionary attention and activity———.
What's your evidence for that?
Just because the system sees and wants to use them a certain way does not make everyone agree or play ball. I did see this too (in fact a good friend of mine), albeit it was the exception.
Poor preachers are like sand on the beach, the financial incentives/security the DoD offers combined with the indoctrination through various classes/courses will make many toe the party line. The Army wants a spiritual guide that uses the “G” word to affirm the commands decisions, to enforce what they define as ethical (not to be confused with moral that comes from some divine being) and that's just about it. Wherever the word of God stands in conflict with the official military position, you the chaplain are to toe the line and best not discuss the issue. Silence is the best method, simply talk about other things. Most chaplains do play along. That's at least what I saw.
I understand that in the Army a soldier can rise through the ranks from very low to the top, while in the Navy there is a lot of nepotism.
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