The Day The Music Died.

U.S. House passes resolution to allow priests to say Mass—voting 400-1…

 

(CUSA) – The following is a press release about Saturday’s vote against the priest ban and illustrates the power of the pen to illustrating disorder and injustice. Vote follows op-ed by AMS General Counsel John Schlageter on non-active duty priests banned from bases—

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The United States House of Representatives today voted 400-1 to pass House Concurrent Resolution 58 calling on Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to allow the continued performance of religious services on military installations during the government shutdown.

The resolution was introduced by Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) in response to an Oct. 3 op-ed by Mr. John Schlageter, General Counsel of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) in which he disclosed that non-active duty Catholic priests have been ordered not to work—or even volunteer—on military installations for the duration of the shutdown, making it impossible for servicemen and women at some locations to attend Mass this weekend.

Mr. Schlageter wrote:

“At a time when the military is considering alternative sources of funding for sporting events at the service academies, no one seems to be looking for funding to ensure the Free Exercise rights of Catholics in uniform. Why not?”

After the vote, Congressman Collins, himself a U.S. Air Force chaplain and Iraq war veteran, said:

“We have a Bill of Rights for a reason—that no matter the fiscal condition of the federal government, the rights of the people are guaranteed. This is a week that has seen veterans denied their right to assemble at our national monuments, travelers denied access to roads their hard-earned dollars have paid for, and now chaplains ordered to stop providing religious services to those who are selflessly willing to lay down their lives for ours…

Congress is duty bound to act as quickly as possible to protect the rights of the American people, and I am proud that we did so today.”

Specifically, H. Con. Res. 58 “recognizes that the performance of religious Services and the provision of ministry are protected activities under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; urges and intends that the Secretary of Defense permit the performance of religious services on property owned or maintained by the Department of Defense, during any lapse in appropriations, in the same manner and to the same extent as such religious services are otherwise available; and urges and intends that the Secretary of Defense permit military chaplains and other personnel, including contract personnel, hired to perform duties of a military chaplain to perform religious services and ministry, during any lapse in appropriations, in the same manner and to the same extent as such chaplains and other personnel are otherwise permitted to perform religious services and ministry.”

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, expressed appreciation for Congressman Collins’ stand in defense of religious freedom.

Archbishop Broglio said:

“Military personnel enjoy, like all Americans, the First Amendment guarantee of the ‘Free Exercise’ of religion. In the current political climate, however, nothing can be taken for granted. I am grateful to Representative Collins and the many other House members who recognized the importance of passing this resolution, which reflects the seriousness with which the American people take their Free Exercise rights.

It can only be hoped that the members of the U.S. Senate will act decisively in order to favor the same First Amendment rights.”