Tag Archives: Religion

Enabling the Warfighter in the Name of Islam

Though it is surprising to see the military suggest a connection between religion and the warfighter, it did precisely that when it highlighted US Islamic government civilians who are supporting the military’s efforts at war.

Azza Meshal. Dr. Rony Shahidain. Muhammad Mizan. Three American-Muslim engineers supporting U.S. Army to equip the Soldier with the capabilities he needs to defeat this country’s enemies abroad.

Meshal, who wears the hijab, also noted the response of her government coworkers when she continued to wear the Islamic garb immediately following the terrorist Read more

Beyond Hearts and Minds: US Military and Islam in Afghanistan

The US military notes its continuing efforts to use money and cultural support for Afghans to normalize their lives and their country.  As noted previously, the US military has direct access to government funds to “meet emergency needs of civilians in support of humanitarian operations.”

The article notes that one intentional recipient of such US government funds has been mosques, both in Afghanistan and Iraq.  As noted by a unit Chaplain, Chaplain (Capt) Abraham Sarmiento:

The next project brought buckets of paint, brushes and rolls of carpet in an effort to refurbish two mosques that were still in disrepair from the Soviet occupation.  Read more

Christians Fear Discrimination over Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

As noted at Fox News, Christians in Memphis reportedly fear they will be the victims of discrimination if an anti-discrimination ordinance is passed.  A local church which made news when it banned a softball team with a homosexual coach is apparently concerned it would be cut off from interaction with government entities, or be subject to sanction, should it continue to support its religious beliefs that oppose homosexual conduct.

Most interesting, however, is the response by the homosexual advocacy group that sponsored the bill to the church’s concern:

[Jonathan] Cole [of the Tennessee Equality Project] stressed that his group is willing to make some concessions and perhaps offer churches an exemption from the proposed law.

“We’re willing to start somewhere by giving them an exemption,” he said. “At least for the time being.”

“For the time being?”

Unique Contract Chaplain Serves Military Community

Norbertine Father Martin Benzoni is a unique Chaplain serving the US military: he isn’t in the military.  He currently serves in El Segundo as the

first ever part-time civilian Catholic chaplain or contractor assigned there. The decision to hire contractors was made at the Pentagon level in order to cover the unique needs in the military…due to a priest shortage the Pentagon decided to sign contracts with the chaplains at all military facilities.

As noted, Benzoni is not the only contract Chaplain.  Interestingly, the contract is between the priest’s religious order and the Air Force.  For those not familiar with military contracting, this means that Benzoni is not even a federal employee.  He could be moved by his Abbot and replaced with another priest; the contract merely requires the order to fulfill the requirement of having a priest there.  In addition, according to the news article he cannot be deployed (though other contractors can be).

Military Christians Wonder About Voting with Their Feet

A few months ago Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen told reporters

if there is either policy direction that someone in uniform disagrees with…and you feel so strongly about it — you know, the answer is not advocacy; it is in fact to vote with your feet.

The New York Times is reporting that those who oppose service by open homosexuals are beginning to wonder just how they can do that.  Unlike General Mixon, the impetus of Mullen’s commentary, most servicemembers cannot simply resign.  Many, even Read more

Chaplain’s Skills “More Useful than a Weapon”

Army Chaplain (Capt.) James B. Russell has a unique perspective on the Chaplaincy.  Once a nurse, now a Chaplain, Russell now serves in a similar but changed role.

“I could deal with people’s pain as a nurse, but as a chaplain, I can enter into people’s suffering.”  Russell says the best part of being a chaplain now is the opportunity to speak to so many people. “Just to sit and be with someone is a gift from God…”  Read more

Military Paper: Religious Coercion vs Religious Expression

On the continuing theme of military papers discussing religion in the military comes Lt Col Jimmy M. Browning’s “Religious Expression or Religious Coercion: Commanders Caught in the Crossfire.”  LtCol Browning, a Colonel-select, was an Air War College student when he published the paper in February of this year.  He is also a USAF Chaplain.

The paper brings an interesting perspective to the “conflict” between those who believe in a right to religious expression and those who believe religious expression is de facto coercion in a military environment:

[The] Military Religion [sic] Freedom Foundation (MRFF) is one group that describes itself as a watchdog against religious coercion…These groups are especially leery of evangelical Read more

Rabbi Lapin on American Christianity

Rabbi Daniel Lapin, an interesting and sometimes controversial American orthodox rabbi, has a fascinating interview at the Jewish Press that touches on Christianity in America.  He discusses everything from the “threat” to Judaism of Christianity in America to his encouragement to wish Christians a “Merry Christmas” rather than Happy Holidays:

I think America has provided the most tranquil, prosperous, and durable haven for Jews in the last 2,000 years because it is a [religious] Protestant country, not in spite of it.  Read more

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