Pay for military priests?

[sydney28]

As a military spouse I feel like I should probably already know this, but my co-workers were asking me today how the pay works for Catholic priests who are in the military.

Our chaplain here is a major, and for anyone who knows anything about the military you would know that you get compensated pretty nicely at that rank, in addition to getting your housing paid for.

So the question is this: are military priests obligated to send a portion of their pay back to their sponsoring diocese? I know that military priests have to be part of a diocese in the states and then their bishop can decide whether or not to “let them” go active duty. It seems that military priests would be paid MUCH more than a regular diocesan priest.

Just curious

 

[laomath]

Are you sure that they have to be a part of a diocese in the states? My understanding is that there is actually a Diocese of the Air Force, so I would assume this would be true for all branches.

Being pretty familiar with the priests on our old AFB, I am pretty sure they did not pay money back to any other diocese, but I am sure they used their resources to aid other causes.

 

[OKCatholic]

Military chaplains serve as commissioned officers either active duty or reserve in the Army, Air Force and Navy (the Marine Corps is served by Naval chaplains). Priests who serve as military chaplains are in the Archdiocese for the Military Services under Archbishop Timothy Paul Broglio. Also assisting the archbishop are two auxiliary bishops. The Military Service Archdiocese is very unique. It serves as a sort of borderless archdiocese with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. serving as the cathedral. Wherever the US military is stationed, the Catholic chaplains are there to see to the spiritual needs of all American servicemen. It should be noted that the Archdiocese for the Military Services is separate from the military chain of command.

The priests who serve as military chaplains come from many different dioceses, orders and priestly congregations. To be a military chaplain a priest must have the permission from his local ordinary (bishop) or religious superior. They must then apply and be accepted by the respective service branch of their choosing. As far as pay, diocesan priests get to keep their military stipends and salaries because they do not take vows of poverty. Religious priests must usually turn over their paychecks to their respective orders or congregations. A priest chaplain, like a doctor or dentist, is considered to have an advanced and highly specialized education. It is because of this that military chaplains start out as O-3 (Captain in the Army and Air Force, Lieutenant in the Navy).

Most Catholic military chaplains only serve for a few years active duty and then stay on as reservists back in their home diocese or wherever their religious superior assigns them. Priests who decide to make a career out of military chaplaincy can potentially make a good living, but it is a very hard life. And it is dangerous. Father Timothy Vakoc, Army chaplain and priest from the Archdiocese of St. Paul – Minneapolis was seriously wounded by an IED.

Often people ask if deacons can serve as Catholic military chaplains. The short answer is no. A deacon cannot offer all sacraments (he cannot say the Mass or hear confession). Only fully ordained priests in good standing within their diocese or order and in full communion with Rome can apply to serve as Catholic chaplains in the military and the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

 

[RevDrNorth]

Good answer. In addition, the question was asked about sending money back home to the diocese. A priest told me that is indeed what he did. It is not good to forget the fact that your home diocese (Bishop) is allowing you to serve in the military. Your Bishop does not have to let you do that nor once in does he have to let you continue to serve. If at any time the Bishop decides you need to come home he simply yanks your endorsement and you will be released from the military. So, it is a sacrifice on the part of your Bishop. This priest told me he therefore remembered to send an offering to the diocese in gratitude for serving.

Now there are priests from religious orders who serve and I imagine their salary belongs to their order. I recall from a Carmelite site (IIRC) that they had a full bird Col (Chaplain) in active duty.

For priests who are attracted to that life (and yes it is dangerous) it is a wonderful and varied ministry. It also has the added benefit of a retirement that would likely exceed anything provided by the diocese.

Incidentally, there are priests who have won the Congressional Medal of Honor.
rtcol.com/~oakland/chaplain6.html

youtube.com/watch?v=E-qbDzwOv9Y
thecross-photo.com/Charles_Watters.htm

Medal of Honor Citation included in this article:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_J._Watters

As the battle raged and the casualties mounted, Chaplain Watters, with complete disregard for his safety, rushed forward to the line of contact. Unarmed and completely exposed, he moved among, as well as in front of the advancing troops, giving aid to the wounded, assisting in their evacuation, giving words of encouragement, and administering the last rites to the dying. When a wounded paratrooper was standing in shock in front of the assaulting forces, Chaplain Watters ran forward, picked the man up on his shoulders and carried him to safety. As the troopers battled to the first enemy entrenchment, Chaplain Watters ran through the intense enemy fire to the front of the entrenchment to aid a fallen comrade. A short time later, the paratroopers pulled back in preparation for a second assault. Chaplain Watters exposed himself to both friendly and enemy fire between the two forces in order to recover two wounded soldiers. Later, when the battalion was forced to pull back into a perimeter, Chaplain Watters noticed that several wounded soldiers were lying outside the newly formed perimeter. Without hesitation and ignoring attempts to restrain him, Chaplain Watters left the perimeter three times in the face of small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire to carry and to assist the injured troopers to safety. Satisfied that all of the wounded were inside the perimeter, he began aiding the medics … applying field bandages to open wounds, obtaining and serving food and water, giving spiritual and mental strength and comfort.

 

[sydney28]

Thanks for the answers! I appreciate it