Earlier today, I was searching for something online and ran accross this article on the JAG Central blog (the original source). I recognized the name of the Army chaplain involved in the matter–in June 2003, I trained with him for a couple of days at Fort Knox.
I searched a little more and came up with these articles: 1 2 3. The articles follow the story from the first news in August. The Roman Catholic chaplain pled guilty to “three counts of forcible sodomy against enlisted men, three counts of committing an indecent act, two counts of fraternization with enlisted service members and one count of conduct unbecoming an officer.” This week, he “was sentenced to five years in prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., dismissed from the Army and ordered to forfeit all benefits.”
The chaplain’s ecclesiastical endorsement was withdrawn and his diocese has suspended him from ministry, stating that no further action will be taken on his ministerial status until after the prison sentence is ended. I’m not sure I understand that reasoning (a priest’s admission of sexual immorality should be enough to result in him being defrocked) but, thankfully, the guilty chaplain has been removed from duty. Let’s hope the diocese will ensure that he never returns to ordained ministry. Sadly, the Marines he abused will have to live with the embarrassment and hurt for the rest of their military careers and their lives.
When I reflect on my training in ministerial ethics, I realize that neither my denomination nor seminary provided any guidance; on the other hand, the Army chaplain school covers this area as much as possible. It is an outrage that the Church provides less ethical guidance to clergy than does the Army.
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