Free Republic

hose familiar with the Washington Post know that the paper is a staunch defender of a very liberal vision of the separation of church and state. For example, the paper's editorial board was heavily critical of the Supreme Court's Mojave cross ruling. But when it comes to the supposed dearth of Muslim chaplains at Virginia prisons, Sunday's Metro section went into full hand-wringing mode. "Inadequate Funds for Chaplains," complained a subheader for the page B1 story by staffer Kevin Sieff. "In Va., most money goes to Protestant clergy," another subheadline for the story "Support limited for Muslims in prison"* lamented....

The archbishop for the U.S. military spoke out for the first time against the effort to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” setting up a possible conflict between Pentagon brass and the 285 Roman Catholic priests who serve on active-duty in the military. “Those with a homosexual orientation can expect respect and treatment worthy of their human dignity,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Catholic overseer for military chaplains, in a statement released late last week. “However, unions between individuals of the same gender resembling marriage will not be accepted or blessed by Catholic chaplains.” Broglio was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI two...

As one who grew up at the height of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West, the astonishingly sudden collapse of the "Evil Empire" in 1991 was mind-boggling. It had been for over 70 years the personification of atheistic hatred for God and persecution of those who believe in Him. Since the implosion of the Soviet Union, the new Russia has been making steady if slow progress back toward God, many Russians have re-embraced Orthodoxy — Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev regularly attend Divine Liturgy, for goodness' sake. And this strengthens the impression I get that the...

LANDSTUHL, Germany, June 26, 2009 – The boxes arrive daily from the United States, 15 to 20 each day, along with $8,000 to $12,000 in cash every week from Americans and U.S. nonprofit groups. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael D. Dubie, the adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, stands in the Wounded Warrior Ministry Center -- nicknamed the "Chaplains' Closet" -- at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, June 17, 2009, during a visit to wounded warriors. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The boxes and the money are meant for the...

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2009 – Active and reserve Army chaplains are playing a critical and strategic role in Iraq, a chaplain serving with Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq said this week. “Our troops are working tirelessly and selflessly to create a trusted and viable security force,” Army Chaplain (Maj.) William Steen said during a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable June 23. “However, the work, family separation and the long hours all take their toll on our troops.” Steen discussed how the military is helping soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines cope with the physical, mental and emotional stress while deployed in Iraq. Chaplains...

Often, for many of our military who died in action, a chaplain was the final person in charge of their soul. In harm’s way, these faithful servants of Christ’s Church don’t just stand beside the men and women in various branches of the service, they wear the uniform. The work of our chaplains extends much farther than the post chapel. They labor on land, at sea and in the air. There are 1.4 million Catholics in the military; wherever they are stationed, the chaplain is there. Their parishes are much different than a local church. Made up of mostly younger...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq, May 19, 2009 – Reinforcements are something every unit loves to have -- more soldiers help to win the fight and save lives at the same time. Army Chaplain (Maj.) Chuck B. Rizer, front right, gets into the action with the brigade staff as he competes in the brigade staff Olympics at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, Feb. 27, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Stephen C. Short  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The duty of being a soldier can be difficult at times, and no matter how many extra soldiers arrive to...

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., April 24, 2009 – The night sky looked calm and tranquil from a gently soaring aircraft, miles above the Eastern Seaboard towns below. However, there was nothing tranquil or calm in the hearts of one family on board, traveling to Dover Air Force Base to witness the dignified transfer of their son’s remains. Air Force Chaplain (retired Lt. Col.) David Sparks counsels a fellow Port Mortuary team member at Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs at Dover Air Force Base, Del., April 21, 2009. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUNTER, Iraq, March 11, 2009 – Two Army chaplains are building much more than the faith of their soldiers on this remote base near the southeastern border of Iraq. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Colt Randles cuts a wooden block for a new door handle for the Solid Rock Chapel at Forward Operating Base Hunter, Iraq, March 5, 2009. Randles and Army Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Roberts are working together to put the finishing touches on the chapel. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Creighton Holub  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Chaplain (Capt.) Colt Randles and Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Roberts...

Just after midnight on Feb. 3, 1943, an act of extraordinary unselfishness by a group of men became a legend of martyrdom and sacrifice. When the Army ship Dorchester was torpedoed by the Germans just south of Greenland that night, its passengers and crew had 25 minutes to get off the boat. As 902 people went for the life jackets, it quickly was discovered there weren't near enough. Of the 13 lifeboats, only two functioned. In the ship's final minutes, Methodist senior chaplain George Lansing Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Dutch Reformed minister Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington, a...

Jeffrey Imm writes in with an AP report about the January 21 Inaugural prayer service to take place at the National Cathedral in Washington. Among those officiating will be Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). This is an outrage and should be stopped. What's ISNA? As I have written (here, for instance), the US government has identified ISNA as a Muslim Brotherhood front organization. Actually, the Muslim Brotherhood itself has identified ISNA as a Muslim Brotherhood front organization. And the Muslim Brotherhood is all about extending Islamic law globally--even in America. According to its 1991...

Excerpt..... A new policy banning Virginia State Police chaplains from saying Jesus,’ Christ’ during prayer is stirring up a lot of controversy. Six chaplains have already resigned over the issue. “In the bible it says to pray in Jesus name,” said Charlotte Ryan, Johnson City, Tennessee resident. Claude Duncan from Johnson City is also against the prayer policy change. “I think it’s a terrible thing that they would create such a thing that would deny us the privilege of praying in the name of our savor, Jesus Christ,” Duncan said. We found strong opposition on Monday to a decision.........

Army chaplain who had served in Kuwait dies at Walter Reed Chaplain (Col.) Sidney J. Marceaux An Army chaplain who ministered to troops for decades died earlier this month after being medically evacuated from Kuwait to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Pentagon announced late Tuesday. Chaplain (Col.) Sidney J. Marceaux, a Catholic priest, died Sept. 14 at Walter Reed "from a noncombat related illness," according to a news release. He had been serving at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, before being transferred to the Warrior Transition Brigade at Walter Reed, officials said. A memorial service was held Wednesday in Kuwait, a...

Speaker wants to rebuild wall separating church and state in military By Karen Nolan Article Launched: 04/05/2008 07:33:35 AM PDT What do the U.S. military and Christianity have in common? Nothing, if Mikey Weinstein has his way. Weinstein is the founder of Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to resurrect what he believes is the crumbling wall between church and state in the military. Specifically, Weinstein believes that a minority Christian viewpoint - one that seeks to turn the military into a Christian force - is infiltrating the ranks at all levels. If they succeed, he says,...

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -- It's the end of lunchtime at the Afghan National Army base of Pol-i-charkhi and, as the mess hall reverberates with the dish-clatter and chair-scraping of soldiers in dark camouflage dispersing, two men linger behind, still digging with spoons into a shared dish of rice and lamb. US Navy Capt. James Fisher is the guest of Afghan Col. Moheb Moheburahman. The American is fair skinned, every inch of his face and scalp clean-shaven, and with ready smile and can-do attitude, he looks downright sunny. The Afghan has an olive complexion and a full black beard flecked with gray....

They dodge bullets and wrestle with the shadier underbelly of society, but the hardest part of a sheriff's deputy's job is telling someone their family member has died. Bishop Robert Green makes that process easier. As a Contra Costa Sheriff's Office volunteer chaplain, Green is one of a few dozen chaplains who make that dreaded knock on the door. Wearing his sheriff's- issued jacket with the word "Chaplain" on the back in large letters, Green is not only charged with helping deputies with the weighty task of delivering the news, he also acts as a counselor for families to ease...

Chaplain sentenced after harassing mistress By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Saturday, September 22, 2007 CAMP ZAMA, Japan — A married Army chaplain who was involved in an affair with an Arizona woman pleaded guilty Thursday to adultery, unbecoming conduct and four counts of cyberstalking at his court-martial. Capt. Mike Myers was sentenced to six months in prison after entering his plea in the courtroom of this Army post near Tokyo. The former chaplain for the 441st Military Intelligence Battalion, 500th Military Intelligence Brigade also will be dismissed from the Army and receive a reprimand stemming from his...

JWB Jewish Chaplains Council Support our U.S. men and women serving in the armed forces at home and overseas. Contributions help us send holiday packages, prayer books and other vital support to our troops. A vital component of JCC Association, JWB Jewish Chaplains Council is a U.S. government-accredited agency serving the religious, social and morale needs of Jewish military personnel, their families, and patients in VA hospitals.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2007 – U.S. military chaplains serving in Afghanistan want troops who have been extended to know support is there for them. “Hang in there; we’re right with you,” is what chaplains want recently extended soldiers to know, a senior chaplain here said.   About 3,200 soldiers of 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, learned yesterday that they will be extended in Afghanistan until June, about 120 days past their scheduled redeployment date.   “Chaplains are uniquely and sympathetically aware of what these soldiers and their families are going through right now,” said Chaplain (Lt....

By Pfc. Susan Blair2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Div. PAO Chaplain's assistant, Spc. Spencer Sprinkman, Task Force 1-73, takes a protective stance in front of Chaplain (Capt.) Brian Koyn, while practicing battle drills before their next mission. NORTHERN IRAQ -- Batman and Robin, Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo, Timon and Pumba, and Starsky and Hutch; these are all famous duos, and they all depended on each other to complete their mission. The Task Force 1-73 Chaplain and his assistant also depend on each other. The relationship between Chaplain (Capt.) Brian Koyn and Spc. Spencer Sprinkman is extremely important in a combat...