In the words of JACKIE GLEASON(as Buford Justice) what in the world is this country coming too?
First, the WWII vets had to struggle to get a decent outdoor memorial erected in their honor. A memorial that is erected on public land, but is supported with private funds. This week, with our big government shutdown, there was more security around this memorial, just to keep elderly veterans out, than there was at our embassy in Benghazi the night it was attacked.
And the reason? In my humble opinion to inflict as much pain as humanly possible through this shutdown. It's a political theater!
If you think this stinks, wait until you hear this. Our military has forbid the celebration of Mass by contract priests (who are being paid by the federal government as independent contractors), even on a volunteer basis.
They have been told that if they violate this restriction, they can face arrest...FOR CELEBRATING MASS.
With roughly 275,000 Catholic men and women in uniform, they are served by only 234 active-duty priests. Thus, the government provides contract and GS priests to take up the slack.
So, here's the thing. Say for instance a Catholic family has a Baptism scheduled at the base chapel this weekend. If they can not locate a priest who is not a GS or contract priest, they should consider the event cancelled. Likewise, a Marine who attends Sunday Mass at the base chapel will have to go elsewhere this weekend.
Our military is considering alternative sources for funding of sporting events at the service academies, but no one seems to be searching for alternative funding to ensure the Free Exercise rights of Catholics in uniform. Wonder why?
This seems to me to be a straight up prohibition of the free exercise of religion. When a priest is ordered under penalty of arrest to not perform their religious duties to the faithful, it is an outrage!
I along with thousands of other Catholics in the United States will remember this day come election time.
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