Gagging the military chaplains 2.0

By 15 February 2012. Filed in News & Commentary.

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tmatt.net » Blog Archive » Gagging the military chaplains 2.0http://www.tmatt.net/2012/02/13/gagging-the-military-chaplains-2-0/Every now and then, bishops write letters for their priests to read to the faithful during Mass.

In 1996 the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services sent a letter to its chaplains instructing them to urge their flocks to back the “Project Life Postcard Campaign” in support of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.

Father Vincent Rigdon wanted to follow this order in rites at Andrews Air Force Base. But there was a problem. Pentagon officials had issued a gag order against chaplains preaching sermons that mentioned this anti-abortion effort.

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Chaplains risking ‘treason’

By 15 February 2012. Filed in News & Commentary.

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Chaplains risking 'treason' (OneNewsNow.com)

Chaplains risking ‘treason’ (OneNewsNow.com)http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1533834A former Navy chaplain who was forced out of the service for praying publicly in Jesus’ name while in uniform says the Obama administration is clearly trying to censor military chaplains who dare to speak out against the pro-abortion and pro-homosexual agenda.
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My calling to the Army chaplaincy

By 14 February 2012. Filed in Chaplain Candidates.

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He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

I remember reading this scripture verse when I completed Basic Training and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as a Combat Engineer, 21 Bravo. I didn’t really knowing what God had in store for my military career. The moment I met a chaplain, it changed everything that I thought about ministry and the military—and how chaplains are to be shepherds and pastors to the flock they’re in charge of. All the chaplains I met exhibited calmness and peace that I wanted to emulate and to serve other soldiers with.

I am with the South Carolina National Guard; after I returned home from Missouri, I remained enlisted for about a year. However, I felt an overwhelming call by God to put my packet in to become a chaplain candidate. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the overwhelming sensation I had to pursue this calling, but I knew time was ticking and that I had to act. I went through a recruiter in my state and submitted my packet. I had my doubts about the process and wasn’t sure I would be selected, but God carried me through.

In March 2011, I received a direct commission to the rank of Second Lieutenant, promoted from E-4 (Specialist) to O-1. U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)—in whose D.C. office I had worked as an intern—called to congratulate me and wish me well on God’s calling. I worked with my church and began seminary. I can see that God had me in the right place at the right time: I was already in the military and loved God and serving others, so chaplaincy was God’s right call for me.

It was hard at first going from a Specialist to a Second Lieutenant, but God was with me and blessed me with an incredible unit, a great battalion chaplain, and a brigade chaplain who helped me along the process. After less than a year with my unit, I received orders to go to CH-BOLC. I will admit, at first I had reservations: “What if there are chaplains with more experience than me? I don’t know what to expect or what this will be like compared to Basic and AIT.” At age 25, I didn’t see how God could use me compared to everyone else who had served in the Army longer or had been in ministry longer. But God brought me to CH-BOLC where I was with his people.

At CH-BOLC, I was never alone because my classmates and I were all brothers and sisters in uniform with the same calling from God to be there. It was great to meet people from all over the country who had the same passion, some with different views, but all with the same calling. We could share our love and service of God with one other and with other soldiers.

God gave me an incredible opportunity at CH-BOLC. I learned so much about how to minister in a military setting, military bearing, background of the Chaplain Corps and the Army. It built on my previous knowledge when I had been a combat engineer. During my time at CH-BOLC, I carried 2nd Platoon’s guidon the entire time, served as a squad leader, carried the Chaplain Corps crest box (because I was the youngest), and won the “back half” award for praying in a unique manner for which I was well known.

I learned a lot at CH-BOLC! God can use anyone who lets him. I could not be prouder to represent God and wear the Army uniform. I look forward to serving soldiers and, one day, going through the accessions board to wear the chaplain’s cross.


 

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Freedom From Religion

By 14 February 2012. Filed in News & Commentary.

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Freedom From Religion - Opinion - PatriotPost.US

Freedom From Religion – Opinion – PatriotPost.UShttp://patriotpost.us/opinion/oliver-north/2012/02/10/freedom-from-religion/WASHINGTON — “We don’t need you, so shut up!” That’s the message the Obama administration has sent loud and clear to America’s Roman Catholics. And it’s a message now being sent to U.S. military chaplains — to the detriment of our armed forces.

During World War II, the War Department and the Department of the Navy urged — the operative word is “urged,” not “ordered,” mind you — U.S. military chaplains to encourage soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardsmen and Marines that God was on our side in the global battle against fascists, Nazis and the godless heathens running rampant across Asia and the Pacific. The hymns “Onward, Christian Soldiers” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” were sung with fervor at chapel services regardless of denomination.

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Proposal could pay for chaplains’ tuition

By 12 February 2012. Filed in News & Commentary.

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Proposal could pay for chaplains’ tuition | LoudounTimes.com

Proposal could pay for chaplains’ tuition | LoudounTimes.comhttp://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/proposal_could_pay_for_chaplains_tuition898/RICHMOND – Like other members of the National Guard, chaplains enter war zones and risk death on the battlefield. But at least two characteristics set these men and women apart from other members of their units.

First, instead of guns, chaplains are armed largely with prayers and comforting words for their compatriots.

And second, they don’t receive the tuition assistance that other members of the National Guard enjoy. That’s because, under the constitutional principle of separation of church and state, Virginia won’t pay for chaplains’ religious education.

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Samuel Harrison studied in Peterboro and served as a Civil War chaplain

By 10 February 2012. Filed in History.

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Samuel Harrison studied in Peterboro and served as a Civil War chaplain | syracuse.com

Samuel Harrison studied in Peterboro and served as a Civil War chaplain | syracuse.comhttp://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/samuel_harrison.html
Samuel Harrison was born April 15, 1818, in Philadelphia, Pa., to enslaved parents. He was given his freedom as a child and came to Peterboro in Madison County to study with wealthy abolitionist Gerrit Smith.
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Source: Pentagon to recommend allowing women to serve closer to combat

By 9 February 2012. Filed in News & Commentary.

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Source: Pentagon To Recommend Allowing Women To Serve Closer To Combat | Fox News

Source: Pentagon To Recommend Allowing Women To Serve Closer To Combat | Fox Newshttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/08/source-pentagon-to-recommend-allowing-women-to-serve-closer-to-combat/#ixzz1lr2F34hI?test=latestnewsWASHINGTON –  For the past decade women in the U.S. military have served, fought and died on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Thursday, Pentagon rules will catch up a bit with reality, recommending to Congress that women be allowed to serve in more jobs closer to the front lines.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/08/source-pentagon-to-recommend-allowing-women-to-serve-closer-to-combat/#ixzz1lt9pODpp

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Protecting service members’ religious freedom

By 9 February 2012. Filed in News & Commentary.

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Protecting service members' religious freedom (OneNewsNow.com)

Protecting service members’ religious freedom (OneNewsNow.com)http://www.onenewsnow.com/Security/Default.aspx?id=1531380A coalition of military chaplain endorsers is supporting a recently introduced bill that would protect chaplains and other members of the armed forces from being targets of discrimination because they oppose homosexuality.
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Army officer wants humanism officially recognized

By 8 February 2012. Filed in News & Commentary.

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Army officer wants humanism officially recognized - San Jose Mercury News

Army officer wants humanism officially recognized – San Jose Mercury Newshttp://www.mercurynews.com/faith/ci_19919389RALEIGH, N.C.—Soldiers who don’t believe in God can go to war with “Atheist” stamped on their dog tags, but humanists and others with various secular beliefs are still officially invisible in the Army.Maj. Ray Bradley is applying to be the first humanist recognized as a “distinctive faith group leader” by the Army. In the meantime, he can’t be designated as a humanist on his official records or dog tags, although he can be classified as an atheist.The distinction may not seem like a large one to those unfamiliar with humanism, but the Fort Bragg-based officer says it’s the equivalent of being told that “Christian” is an acceptable designation, but not “Catholic.”

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Obama Admin Accused of Blocking Chaplain’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Letter

By 8 February 2012. Filed in News & Commentary.

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Obama Admin Accused of Blocking Chaplain’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Letter, Christian Newshttp://www.christianpost.com/news/obama-admin-accused-of-blocking-chaplains-religious-freedom-letter-68979/
Reports of a rift between the Obama Administration and the Roman Catholic Church over a “contraception mandate” have been swarming the media of late, with some saying the president was even “censoring” military chaplains from speaking out about the issue — but a military source insists the whole affair is overblown.

The controversy surrounds a recent policy change by the Obama Administration that forces institutions affiliated with religious groups to provide coverage for birth control, sterilization and “abortifacients,” all of which the Roman Catholic Church is opposed to. The church’s official position is that the ruling is unconstitutional and infringes on religious rights.

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