Priests saying mass on bases now?

... The people, regardless of their religion have the right, and the duty by the government to offer the Sunday Mass. It happens that Catholism is the largest community and open to people of all faiths, which is why it is right to have it available.

Are you serious? Please enlighten me with your reasoning.
 
Before going into theological arguements, the Army should provide coverage of chaplains to all its soldiers/families regardless of their beliefs. It is not the most expensive thing to do compared with the overall budget. Any and all counseling should be provided. Most are just too far from home and support structures. Diversity is a wonderful thing. Opportunity to think, appreciate and bond with others. It also enables you to give someone a break if they dont believe in what you do.

Bigger issue is the suicides by current and former soldiers. They need to do more on that too regardless of costs. They have recognized that and they are trying. Many of these kids over the last 12 years have seen some really bad things. It is just a tough thing to measure what is going inside some one's head. It is tough to know what makes someone snap.
 
Church reflects the teaching of Christ

Are you serious? Please enlighten me with your reasoning.

The full explaination is in the CCC, which I recommend you read. The short answer is that Christ came into the world to draw all people to the Father, and the teachings, sacrements etc. help us to do this. All people are called and the free will which we are all given is the opportunity to make a decision as to which way we go. All beliefs have seeds of truth in them and the fullness of truth is reflected by the Church which has the goal of guiding all people to the father. The govt. is for the people and should serve the people in all matters.
 
The full explaination is in the CCC, which I recommend you read. The short answer is that Christ came into the world to draw all people to the Father, and the teachings, sacrements etc. help us to do this. All people are called and the free will which we are all given is the opportunity to make a decision as to which way we go. All beliefs have seeds of truth in them and the fullness of truth is reflected by the Church which has the goal of guiding all people to the father. The govt. is for the people and should serve the people in all matters.

Even if a priest blesses it, spam is still not kosher.
 
jj,

As much as I respect your opinion, your defense argument IMPO is flawed. (I am Catholic)

There is a thing called separation between church and state. The govt has no business being in my or any American citizen's religious beliefs.

The reason IMPO that this defense was wrong comes down to the fact that the chapel on base is non-denomination.

That is fact. That is why you see no Stations of the Cross, why the crucifix is on a pivot and there is a curtain to cover it.

The reason to have angst or anger as someone that has been a parishioner of on base chapels around the world is the 1st offering always goes to your parish, and it is no different on a military base/post.
~~~ At Leavenworth a chapel on post was gifted/loaned to the Army with the condition that they would always supply a priest for the military parishioners. I do not know if the priest there now is AD or contracted. If contracted, the Army broke their commitment to the church.

Remember that weekly offering pays for the upkeep of the church on that post too.

I would also say that many military members believe a church is as much of a family or support as their own blood. They never thought about if the priest was contracted or AD when they joined the church.

To truly understand the community, you have to be in the community. The govt IMPO should not be involved at all. That includes the govt forcing a priest that is contracted to chose between being fired/arrested or serving their flock. The Catholic church provides the contracted priests, and the parishioners through the weekly offerings paid for that priest to be contracted.

The govt in part did not pay for the priest, they only were the middle man. Again, if you are not a parishioner, you are not aware what the offering pays for. It doesn't all go to Rome!
 
I met many Chaplains from different religions in my short term on active duty. They were all great people and were all easy to talk to whatever denomination and came around regularly to talk to enlisted. Check the MOH registry. I think there are about four there.:thumb:
 
Folks before you go any further down the path of arguing about the validity or justification of Religious beliefs - Stop. We're not going there.
The premise of this thread was seriously off base to begin with because the short answer as to why they were without an organist or a Contract priest was simple. The priests organists were civilians/ not military paid by the government and like all nonmilitary personnel during that period- not authorized to work. Not only that, like all functions not performed during the shutdown, they were not authorized to volunteer their time nor was anyone else authorized to "flex" to cover their functions. Straight forward- not a conspiracy- not an example of discrimination, the situation was replicated in all kinds of important functions throughout the government. An unfortunate and stupid situation that the Government should never have been in to begin with - write your Congressman and the President and tell them how idiotic and chaotic the entire situation was. They won't give a Dxxx and since neither Congress or the President see's any value in constructive compromise- nothing will change but it's always therapeutic to follow the example of the Newscaster in the movie "Network" and scream " I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!!" www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGiX5tbLKiY

But forget arguing on this thread the theological points of your particular religious persuasion or lack thereof, because it's out of bounds.
 
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USAFA chapel

jj,

As much as I respect your opinion, your defense argument IMPO is flawed. (I am Catholic)

There is a thing called separation between church and state. The govt has no business being in my or any American citizen's religious beliefs.

The reason IMPO that this defense was wrong comes down to the fact that the chapel on base is non-denomination.

That is fact. That is why you see no Stations of the Cross, why the crucifix is on a pivot and there is a curtain to cover it.

The reason to have angst or anger as someone that has been a parishioner of on base chapels around the world is the 1st offering always goes to your parish, and it is no different on a military base/post.
~~~ At Leavenworth a chapel on post was gifted/loaned to the Army with the condition that they would always supply a priest for the military parishioners. I do not know if the priest there now is AD or contracted. If contracted, the Army broke their commitment to the church.

Remember that weekly offering pays for the upkeep of the church on that post too.

I would also say that many military members believe a church is as much of a family or support as their own blood. They never thought about if the priest was contracted or AD when they joined the church.

To truly understand the community, you have to be in the community. The govt IMPO should not be involved at all. That includes the govt forcing a priest that is contracted to chose between being fired/arrested or serving their flock. The Catholic church provides the contracted priests, and the parishioners through the weekly offerings paid for that priest to be contracted.

The govt in part did not pay for the priest, they only were the middle man. Again, if you are not a parishioner, you are not aware what the offering pays for. It doesn't all go to Rome!

The gov't is financed by taxes - corporate & personal etc.. which is the people, and the separation of chuch and state is to keep the gov't outside of the inside of the churches. Last time I was at the church at the USAFA there was a life size model of Christ patterned after the Holy Shroud of Turin which USAFA professors 3D modelded with test equipment developed for trips to the moon. Amazing how accurate it was. There also was a tabernacle with the Holy Euchrist present. All good things, along with Priests at mass for those at the Academy.
 
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