Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: johniegrad

I’m ex-Protestant and a Navy brat and ex-Air Force wife (still married to him, but he’s not in the Air Force any more), so “Chaplain” to me is a Protestant Navy or Air Force officer ;-).

I was just explaining why the earlier poster had said the Sister was not a “chaplain.”


18 posted on 07/02/2012 3:12:30 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and bring me safe to His heavenly kingdom.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies ]


To: Tax-chick

I served 8 years as a naval medical officer and I agree that, in the military, the term chaplain has been restricted to ministers who are officers. On Friday, I retired from 25 years medical practice at large multispecialty clinic which merged with a Catholic hospital system. The hospital chaplains have never suggested that they could provide the sacraments but provide other types of services like communion calls, spiritual visits, etc. That doesn’t make them any less chaplains. None of them in my experience have been clergy. Some were religious, many were lay folks trained according to the standards listed at that web site. Barring some catastrophe, I will be ordained to the permanent diaconate after 6 years of formation this November. Being a physician and probably clergy, I have already been asked to involve myself in clinical-pastoral issues for the diocese, parishes, and hospitals. But I have no interest in the chaplaincy training. The MD goes well with all those functions already.


19 posted on 07/02/2012 3:27:40 PM PDT by johniegrad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson