Saturday, February 18, 2012

Don't demonize religious beliefs

Belief in the sanctity of life (among other hot topics) is not a political view among evangelical Christians, despite political implications. It is first and foremost a religious conviction based on an embrace of biblical truth. And while interpretations differ, those who derive from Scripture a pro-life view are not trying to be political. They are trying to convey an ethical position that has implications for individual behavior.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Muzzling Chaplains

The Catholic Archbishop to the Armed Forces has issued a letter to be read in chapel services by every Catholic military chaplain regarding the government's intrusion into how Catholic hospitals operate, which would force them to provide for abortion and birth control against their religious convictions. This is not a political matter, but a spiritual one. We need to stand with our Catholic friends on this. The Pentagon is at fault. As a Chaplaincy Ecclesiastical Endorser, I can state that should CCCC chaplains fail to live up to our standards, their endorsements would be withdrawn and they would be separated from military service. The Pentagon knows this, yet they are usurping their authority knowing chaplains serve a higher authority. Catholic chaplains may read the required letter anyhow and face official reprimand, or resign in protest...and if the military persists, they could lose all their priests over this matter. Chaplains swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution; I wish they were covered by it. Let's go over everyone's head and pray about this.