Questions of Faith : Is the U.S. Military Targeting Christians?

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Is the U.S. Military Targeting Christians?

In the wake of the recent government shutdown, many areas of civilian life have been affected. People are unable to visit national parks, receive survivor benefits for fallen military family members, and they also could have trouble getting their passports. Now, there are problems within the military as well.
The U.S. Military has furloughed as many as 50 Catholic chaplains due to the shutdown (Click here to read the full article on FoxNews.com). Currently, the government does not allow priests to perform Masses, even as volunteers, on base. "They risk being arrested if they attempt to do so," said John Schlageter, general counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Cybercast News Service (CNS) has confirmed this ban.

Questions abound as to why certain government services are considered necessary and others are not. The military's football teams played this weekend, but their church services were not performed. Bill Donohue of the Catholic League said, "It's a sad contrast when we can let a football game go on but we won't let a priest go on base and celebrate Mass."

The shutdown has delayed many of the regular services that the chaplains provide. "There is no doubt that furloughing of personnel hired or contracted to perform the duties of military chaplains is having an effect," Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) said. "Just in this region, church services, baptisms, weddings have been curtailed."

Chaplains are part of the 800,000 federal employees staying home because of the shutdown. Under the law, federal employees cannot work while the government is not operational. This law is intended to protect employed persons from being forced to work for no pay.

Republicans offered a proposal on Thursday afternoon for raising the debt ceiling but President Obama "didn't say yes, didn't say no," said Representative Paul Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin and chairman of the House Budget Committee. "We agreed to continue talking and continue negotiating." Republicans are "back to the drawing board," but even if Congress does end up raising the debt ceiling, the 17 percent of government that is shut down will still not be open. There is no end in sight for the partial government shutdown which raises questions about what will be done to let the chaplains carry out their duties.

A glimmer of hope though, came on Saturday, October 5, with a House resolution (H.R.3223) which should allow chaplains to give prayer services on a volunteer basis.

Click here for Thursday's White House Press Briefing: