Posted on 11/24/2011 4:16:28 AM PST by theoldmarine
A large cross that had been prominently displayed outside a chapel on an isolated military base in northern Afghanistan was taken down last week, prompting outrage from some American service members stationed there.
“We are here away from our families, and the chapel is the one place that feels like home,” a service member at Camp Marmal told POLITICO. “With the cross on the outside, it is a constant reminder for all of us that Jesus is here for us.”
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“Not having it there is really upsetting,” added another. “I walk by the chapel daily on the way to chow and the gym, and seeing the cross is a daily reminder of my faith and what Jesus accomplished for me. It is daily inspiration and motivation for me to acknowledge my faith and stay on the right path.”
Camp Marmal is a German base that hosts NATO forces. The interfaith chapel in question is supervised by the U.S. Army.
The soldiers said they found great comfort in the chapel — and the cross visible outside. “Sometimes the Church and the ability to openly express religious views ultimately gets people through the deployments over here,” one told POLITICO by email.
The service member said he asked the base chaplain, a military officer, what had happened to the cross. “I had to take it down,” said the chaplain, according to the solider, without further explanation.
Pentagon spokesperson Commander William Speaks confirmed the cross was removed and told POLITICO, “The removal was, in fact, in accordance with Army regulations” and pointed out that the Army chaplain manual prohibits permanent display of religious symbols.
“Distinctive religious symbols, such as crosses… will not be affixed or displayed permanently on the chapel interior, exterior or grounds,” reads the manual.
Speaks said the cross had been up since mid-October; the service members said it was longer.
The two characterized the removal of the cross as an attack on their religion and noted that there had been no complaints from Muslims — there are two mosques on the base — or Jews, who had recently conducted a service in the chapel without incident.
“I really don’t understand why Christians are always attacked. If it was a crescent moon on top of a mosque, it would never be taken down,” said an Army serviceman.
“We would just like to know where the line is. The chaplains wear different religious symbols on their uniforms depending on which religion they are. Is that the next thing to be targeted?” added a second service member.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/69039.html#ixzz1ecjXRmlj
chapels are supposed to be nondenominational, and because some religions, like Mormons, don’t think crosses should be displayed (notice the spires on all Mormon buildings), they don’t put crosses on them. This rule isn’t enforced much in the states, that I noticed, so it was probably Muzzy threats that brought it down.
Wm.Speak is right. with all due respect for his rank and title— Don’t mean Nuthin,Sir! salute and retire—and count off days to DEROS.”as Mr.Lincoln said so well in 1858
A House divided against itself cannot stand.” He built a political speech around a verse of Scripture seen in Mark chapter 3 Verses 24-25 . When the Command erects a wall of separation and demands a neutral God and a watered down Gospel
they promote a church hostile to the God our Founders believed we are duty bound to remember. When Hitler tried to control the Church he led to the Confessing Church and did not destroy that which he hated so much.Now?Trust God—and the United States of America.
Our own U.S. Army has confiscated and burned 100s of Bibles in Asscrackistan.
That pesthole is not worth one American life. Anybody who thinks a decade or 2 of American presence can reform that barbaric region (never was a nation) is either a moron or likes to see the American military ground down and American military lives destroyed.
“Army chaplain manual prohibits permanent display of religious symbols..”
we seem to be moving from having chapels for religious services to assembly halls for anything goes.
Images of Christianity: forbidden.
Homosexual Activity: praised.
God forgive us.
I suggest that all the Soldiers start displaying a lower case letter “t” in the living areas. If asked they could say the “t” stands for “teamwork” which is very important. They could even greet each other everyday with a hearty yell of “teamwork”
“...the cross is offensive is that the world does not want to hear that our sin made Christ’s death necessary. We run from concepts related to death, judgement, punishment. It’s not just contemporary mankind . . . it’s always been this way. We want to hear about the goodness of men. We want to talk about our great untapped potential. We resist and fight any notion that we are sinners in the hands of an Angry God.
When we consider that our sin was responsible for Christ’s suffering we turn away. We can’t . . .and won’t bear that responsibility. This is a view of our own sinfulness we don’t want to see.
The Bible paints a clear picture. We have rebelled against God. We have rebelled against God constantly and much more than we are willing to admit. This rebellion is infinitely offensive to our Holy God. We deserve God’s electric chair. We deserve judgement. There are no appeals before God . . . no last minute calls from the Governor. We are condemned unless the Judge, Himself, intervenes.”
http://www.unionchurch.com/archive/maundy98.html
Yet another kick in the teeth from our muzzie “allies.”
We should not spend one more red cent on aid to those treacherous dirtbags. Everything is “one way” with them....two bad that way is the wrong (evil) way!
I wonder how long it will be before they dig up all those little white crosses at Normandy....
“Distinctive religious symbols, such as crosses… will not be affixed or displayed permanently on the chapel interior, exterior or grounds,” reads the manual.****
You can’t display a religious symbol or cross inside of a chapel? How can anyone tell they’re in the chapel? Is prayer or are Bibles in the chapel also offlimits per the manual? We certainly wouldn’t want to offend the sensibilties of our most gracious Afghani hosts.
How offensive to tell those serving that they must check any representation of their faith at the door since it has become such an sensitive issue in the new all-inclusive Army.
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