Priests threatened with arrest if they minister to military during shutdown

The Daily Caller ^ | 10/04/13 | Alex Pappas

[mware]

In a stunning development, some military priests are facing arrest if they celebrate mass or practice their faith on military bases during the federal government shutdown.

“With the government shutdown, many [government service] and contract priests who minister to Catholics on military bases worldwide are not permitted to work – not even to volunteer,” wrote John Schlageter, the general counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, in an op-ed this week. “During the shutdown, it is illegal for them to minister on base and they risk being arrested if they attempt to do so.”

According to its website, the Archdiocese for the Military Services “provides the Catholic Church’s full range of pastoral ministries and spiritual services to those in the United States Armed Forces.”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/04/priests-threatened-with-arrest-if-they-minister-to-military-during-shutdown/#ixzz2gqlEaUts

[mware]

Speechless

[mware]

Eric Cantor ✔ @GOPLeader The House will vote tomorrow morning to affirm the right of all military chaplains to conduct services during the shutdown. 9:18 PM - 4 Oct 2013

[SumProVita]

This information needs to be shared with Rush...etc...

ASAP!

[Mercat]

We all need to start praying. Where’s Emil Kapaun when we need him? He managed to keep the faith alive in a North Korean prison camp. I’m hoping that the priests involved defy this horrible order and start getting arrested.

[HiTech RedNeck]

How about let’s get speech again... towards God.

This can’t be just about Roman Catholic chaplains and “Mass” celebrations. It also would logically apply to evangelical ministers and the kinds of worship services they conduct.

[mware]

Fox News is all over it, but I have not seen anything anywhere else.

I did email a copy of the article to my parish priest. I think he will be all over this today during Mass.

[Beagle8U]

More satire?

[ClearCase_guy]

I can't believe I'm taking the other side here, but part of the point is that people (priests or whatnot) are not being paid and you do not want a situation where a worker says, "My boss told me I wasn't being paid, but I still had to come to work -- to work for free -- or else he'd fire me." That becomes a legal nightmare, whether the claim is true or not.

I think priests are very unlikely to behave badly, but I think the government has a policy and is applying that policy to 100% of the furloughed workers, with no special exemptions or waivers for anyone in a "special" category (so, you see, it's not like Obamacare).

I'm not thrilled by it, but I think I understand why they are doing this.

[mware]

Hi, I was thinking the same thing. This article came out of the archdiocese. I will wager the same is happening to other religious groups too.

This can not stand.

[Tupelo]

Well Hey, Is it not what is expected from this administration?
It will be interesting to follow this story, if for no other reason than to see if these Priests really do have the courage of their convictions. Or are they like the GOPe, all talk and no cattle.

[ConservativeInPA]

Democrats are always going after clingers and ignoring the constitution and our God giving freedoms. Tyranny I say, Tyranny. It is time to revolt.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The organizational tie helps Catholics get the news out. I’d think the SBC would serve a similar communication role among Southern Baptist chaplains... if so there will soon be a furor in the Bible Belt about this. Not as if they loved Obama in the first place.

[muir_redwoods]

What a great photo op that would make, government thugs dragging priest away with communion hosts being defiled. This government is cruising for a fall.

[Texas Fossil]

Nope, not on the Daily Caller.

I think it is a legit complaint about the evil thin skinned mulatto.

[mware]

The priests have been told they can not even volunteer their services of giving the sacraments. (without pay).Priests have died for less. Of course that usually happens in a totalitarian country, not the United States of America.

[SumProVita]

Thanks.

I’ll share it with my parish priest this morning...am headed to Mass in about 20 minutes.

[mware]

Get it done HiTech. We unite and they will back down.

[Mouton]

Time for a crusade, this time, into DC.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This must stop.

[Ann Archy]

No, Sadly this is NOT SATIRE!!

[ClearCase_guy]

I'm definitely not pushing for a defense of the government. I see two paths here:

1) Priests employed by the government cannot trespass on military bases during the shutdown, and therefore may not perform services on the base. <-- I understand why the gov't would say this.
2) Priests cannot go to a neutral place and act as priests <-- totally indefensible and unAmerican.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Priests banned from military installations. But scumbags like the Navy Yard shooter are given free reign?

[Ann Archy]

OMG!!! I almost can’t believe you.

[I want the USA back]

Yes, of course. The country, under our fearless leader, has adopted the policy of actively suppressing all things Christian, and promoting all things jihadi.

You know I’m right.

[Conspiracy Guy]

You understand wrongly. They are doing it as punishment not to avoid a law suit.

[mware]

The word needs to get out. Fox is reporting, but except for the Daily Caller I have not seen it anywhere else. Although I have not checked the UK papers yet.

Catholic League has not even picked it up yet.

[Beagle8U]

House leadership should go to a federal judge for warrant to arrest whoever gave that illegal order.

1st amendment covers this.

[shibumi]

So Priests who aren’t getting paid are not allowed to minister to soldiers who aren’t allowed to announce their faith.

The Emperor Nero cloak fits The Usurper better each day.

(Have they started digging catacombs under the bases yet?)

[Ann Archy]

They'd have to arrest OBAMA, the MUSLIM!!

What about our FEDERAL PRISONS???? Are the Priests, Ministers and IMAMS ALLOWED in??

[AMDG&BVMH]

Trespass?!? Most installations are open posts. Who else are they arresting visiting an installation? Military police enforce order on Installations — are they being told to arrest people who come on post? Wondering . . .

[AlexW]

What else do you expect from a Communist government?
The brain dead citizens know nothing about a Marxist government. They have no clue as to what it was before Ronaldo told the Commies to “Tear Down This Wall”.
It was a great experience for me to live in post Communist central Europe.
America is about to experience the USSA.

[Ann Archy]

I call him the Negro Nero.

[mware]

As I have said, priests have died to give the sacrament to people. Arrests, that is a piece of cake.

[Beagle8U]

I think just arresting one base commander would kinda put a stop to this. The news would get to the boy-king real quick.

Make sure all the media was there when you frogmarched said commander off to a cell.

[certrtwngnut]

We now need a gubmint OK to practice ones faith?

[fatnotlazy]

Your position might be plausible if someone other than the current dictator wannabe resided in the White House.

With this pResident, none of his actions are benign or rational. There is always some evil motivation behind his actions.

[Aevery_Freeman]

Up yours, Cracka's!!

I also think I understand why he's doing it!

[mware]

Fox News reporting the House has just met to deal with this issue

[RedMDer]

BUMP!

[mware]

I think I heard this correctly. Members of the House will be having a news conference to discuss this issue.

I think it just hit the fan folks.

[txrefugee]

Until now, these priests hadn’t figured out that the ungodly are now in control.
What are Christians going to do about it?

[P-Marlowe]

It is long past time to draw up articles of impeachment.

[oldbrowser]

I've heard of Marshall law being declared in a civil emergency.

This would be the first time I ever heard of MARXIST LAW being declared.

We are now on the verge of a full blown occupation.

[abclily]

Priests will show Obama who the real men are! Pray for our priests.

[Lazamataz]

Gee, I wonder if the Muslim 5-times-a-day prayer and Mosque worship is also cancelled and the Imams threatened with arrest?

No wait, I know the answer to that one.

[onedoug]

“...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness....”

[leapfrog0202]

The article said these priests are local priests that volunteer. They aren’t military or federal employees.

[Flick Lives]

“During the shutdown, it is illegal for them to minister on base and they risk being arrested if they attempt to do so.”

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.[1]

[NYer]

Catholic ping!

[Travis McGee]

Welcome to the USSA, comrades!