God banned from military funerals

[Jim_Reid]

I am sorry if this has been posted in the wrong area. But watching EWTN Live this evening, Father Mitch Pacwa stated that it was now forbidden at military funerals for U.S. personnel, to say/or pray to GOD. I have tried to search for further information on this and have been able to obtain any. If this is true, as a Marine Corps veteran and more importantly a Christian I am outraged. How could this be happening? If anybody could please tell me more, before I begin calling my congressman and senators. I am shaking right now I am so upset.

 

[kimmielittle]

 

[KevinAK]

Here is a link I found:

foxnewsinsider.com/2011/06/29/vets-claim-god-banned-at-military-funerals-must-submit-prayers-for-govt-approval/

This is only happening in Houston TX.

 

[Lancer]

Jim…appears to be an isolated case in Houston…at VA Cemetery…a local director…not the the Military Services…it has already been in court and is back in front of a federal judge…reading the story…it is quite bizarre…the local director…is making a name for herself.

A few excerpts…with link below.

Pax Christi…& Semper fi Marine

VA Cemetery Accused of Censoring Religious Speech
June 29, 2011
Houston Chronicle

Local veterans and volunteer groups are accusing Department of Veterans Affairs officials of censoring religious speech – including banning the word “God” – at Houston National Cemetery.

In one example cited in documents filed this week in federal court, cemetery director Arleen Ocasio reportedly told volunteers with the National Memorial Ladies that they had to stop telling the families, “God bless you,” at funerals and that they had to remove the words “God bless” from condolence cards.

The new allegations of “religious hostility” by VA and cemetery officials follow on the heels of a controversy over a prayer in Jesus’ name by Pastor Scott Rainey at a Memorial Day service in the cemetery.

U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes ruled May 26 that Ocasio couldn’t stop Rainey from using the words “Jesus Christ” in his invocation.

Ocasio is on vacation and could not be reached for comment. Her assistant, Amanda Rhodes, said the cemetery had no comment.

According to court documents, Ocasio banned members of the groups from using certain religious words such as “God” or “Jesus,” censored the content of prayer, and forbade the use of religious messages in burial rituals unless the deceased’s family submitted the text to her for prior approval.

Court documents also describe the closure of the cemetery’s chapel after Ocasio’s appointment as director two years ago.

“The doors remain locked during Houston National Cemetery operating hours, the cross and the Bible have been removed, and the Chapel bells, which tolled at least twice a day, are now inoperative,” the complaint reads. “Director Ocasio only unlocks the Chapel doors when meetings or training sessions are held at the building. Furthermore it is no longer called a ‘chapel’ but a ‘meeting facility.’”

“It’s just unfair that somebody would ask us to take God out of our vocabulary,” said Cheryl Whitfield, founder of Houston National Memorial Ladies.

military.com/news/article/va-cemetery-accused-of-censoring-religious-speech.html

 

[Khalid]

That’s one crazy Satanic ***** (edit: female dog).

 

[Journey322]

Surely this won’t stand. I imagine more than a few soldiers will have a problem with this (not to mention their families). They have a right to decide how they would like to be buried and many on active duty are sure to rely heavily on their faith. This woman is obviously overstepping a major boundary here and I trust someone will eventually put her in her place.

 

[jaxon52]

@Jim Reid: Upon googling military funerals I was able to pull up a myriad of sites that verify this.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/06/houston_cemetery_bans_the_word_god_from_military_funerals_1.html

atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2011/06/va-veterans-cemetery-bans-the-word-god-jesus-offensive-no-longer-allowed.html

patriotactionnetwork.com/forum/topics/va-veterans-cemetery-bans-the?xg_source=activity

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=8054145

These are just a few. I hope this helps.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am sorry if this has been posted in the wrong area. But watching EWTN Live this evening, Father Mitch Pacwa stated that it was now forbidden at military funerals for U.S. personnel, to say/or pray to GOD. I .

he may have been responding to a story in the news yesterday about a military funeral in Houston where a cemetary official refused to allow any mention of God, it is on yahoo

 

[Crumpy]

It says “in God we trust” right over the speaker’s chair in the U.S. House of Representatives. Our coinage and currency says “In God we trust.”

There was recently completed a Jewish synagogue (built with private funds) at the U.S. Naval Academy on public grounds.

People are mentally ill to challenge the First Amendment of the Constitution and the U.N.'s charter on religious freedom. There doesn’t seem to be any other explanation.

If you didn’t believe in God, then why would the mention of God disturb you? If someone makes a voodoo curse or spell over me, what do I care (unless I happened to be superstitious)?

Here’s evidence of how ineffective public school education is, that people are intolerant of religious expression when they should know that religious expression is PROTECTED by the constitution. In a lot of cases the people do know, they just want to make a point, that you can complain and sue over anything.

 

[YankeeRC]

They will keep pushing. To borrow from Martin Niemoler,

First they came for the name of God, and I did not speak out –
Because it was not my name.

Then they came for the God Fearer’s, and I did not speak out –
Because I was not a God fearer.

Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.

 

[Prophesy]

Since when does cemetery have say over a funeral?

Ministering to the dead means doing things according to their will. If they were theists, it’s discriminatory to forbid religious language.

-Prophesy

 

[Lujack]

I was at my grandfather’s burial not long ago; the priest didn’t come to the graveside, but there was definitely a prayer.

 

[severus68]

I am sorry if this has been posted in the wrong area. But watching EWTN Live this evening, Father Mitch Pacwa stated that it was now forbidden at military funerals for U.S. personnel, to say/or pray to GOD. I have tried to search for further information on this and have been able to obtain any. If this is true, as a Marine Corps veteran and more importantly a Christian I am outraged. How could this be happening? If anybody could please tell me more, before I begin calling my congressman and senators. I am shaking right now I am so upset.

This seems ridiculous and outrageous – and in the US?. From what others have posted in response, it appears to be one incient now the subject of a court case.

Be glad that you have the right to protest. There are others around the world whose right to even choose their religion are prohibited and choosing Christ may mean even death.

Well, no one can ever take Christ from our thoughts, hearts and souls.

 

[Keith_W_OR_USA]

I am sorry if this has been posted in the wrong area. But watching EWTN Live this evening, Father Mitch Pacwa stated that it was now forbidden at military funerals for U.S. personnel, to say/or pray to GOD. I have tried to search for further information on this and have been able to obtain any. If this is true, as a Marine Corps veteran and more importantly a Christian I am outraged. How could this be happening? If anybody could please tell me more, before I begin calling my congressman and senators. I am shaking right now I am so upset.

The family would have to request the prayer or religious service at a military funeral service. Before the volunteers would just automatically do it. It is up to the deceased soldier’s family to decide what they want to occur at the funeral. Not every soldier is a Christian.

 

[jaxon52]

Rogue administrator, unclear statement, or otherwise…it is the continual chipping away at our ethics, morals and values. A little bit here. A tad there. Not much. But just enough to let it run off like water from a duck’s back. Before long, you realize that you have cow-towed to the minority for so long that not only have you become desensitized, but are now the minority and now no one cares about you nor your antiquated beliefs. Your ways have become radical to the point that even counseling would be of no value.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

The family would have to request the prayer or religious service at a military funeral service. Before the volunteers would just automatically do it. It is up to the deceased soldier’s family to decide what they want to occur at the funeral. Not every soldier is a Christian.

But as a volunteer you are not even allowed to say “God Bless”…and even if the family wants a prayer at the service…they have to have it approved by the director…which always wants “God” or “Jesus” removed… Now my husband fought in a war…so we could have freedom of speech but if I had him buried in this cemetary…then we are not afforded that? What the heck?

 

[KWR_1]

But as a volunteer you are not even allowed to say “God Bless”…and even if the family wants a prayer at the service…they have to have it approved by the director…which always wants “God” or “Jesus” removed… Now my husband fought in a war…so we could have freedom of speech but if I had him buried in this cemetary…then we are not afforded that? What the heck?

It is entirely up to the family what they want to occur at the funeral. As a volunteer you must abid by the laws and rules of the entity that you are volunteering for.
If you had a family member that was Catholic and died in a war how would you feel if a volunteer chanted ‘Hira Kirshina’ or other religious chants at the funeral? That is what the funeral home, cemetery or government is avoiding by requiring volunteers to remain neutral in regards to speech at a funeral.