“We should never forget the importance of chaplains.”
–Defense Secretary Robert Gates in an interview on the NBC Today show just a moment ago in Afghanistan
“We should never forget the importance of chaplains.”
–Defense Secretary Robert Gates in an interview on the NBC Today show just a moment ago in Afghanistan
Yet Christian chaplains have been ordered not to preach Jesus Christ. A couple chaplains who dared to pray “in Jesus’ Name”, have been court-martialed.
Where’s Fr. Mulcahy when you need him? He does Catholic rites. But will also do Protestant or Jewish in a pinch if needed.
Daniel, As an Army Chaplain I can tell you that I have never been ordered not to preach Jesus Christ. This Sunday I will preach Jesus without any problems from those in command over me. As praying in the Name of Jesus at a Christian event there is no problem. The problem is when it is a non-Christian event.
Blessings,
Fr. Bart+
Daniel,
No military chaplain has even been told not to preach Jesus or to refrain from praying in Jesus’ name. That is a lie that has been promulgated by a former Navy Chaplain, Gordon Klingenschmidt.
Gordon was discharged from the Navy after a court martial found him guilty of insubordinate behavior in failing to obey lawful orders and wearing the uniform inappropriately and at inappropriate settings; ie. political rallies. He has fabricated this martyrdom in order to continue collecting speaking fees and donations, and it is apparent that he is still somewhat successful in this deception.
I have never heard of any Christian Chaplain being court-martialed for praying “in Jesus’ name” in a Christian service. It is a terrible curse of our times that people will repeat this kind of alarmist claptrap with no effort to validate it or to place it in context. I suppose it’s no problem if absolutely no one believes it, but I fear that there are people who think that reading something makes it true.
Fr. Bart, RevK and NoVA Scout,
You guys are spot on! Klingenschmidt and others like him I have met over the years discredit the chaplaincy, sadly in the Guard and Reserves it seems such friends have no viable civilian job, so they need a platform to make money.
Undoubtedly, Gates’ observation has in mind our ability to intervene in suicides, combat stress exposure, addictions and pastoral emergencies back home, especially marriages in crisis. Keep up the good work guys!