The Archdiocese for Military Services announced last week that Walter Reed National Military Medical Center issued a “cease and desist order” to the community of priests who provided pastoral care for the hospital for “nearly two decades.”
Per the statement, Franciscan Catholic priests and brothers from Holy Name College were directed to “cease any religious services,” at the center just before Holy Week.
A contract between Walter Reed and Holy Name College was terminated March 31 and a new contract was awarded to a secular defense contracting firm. However, this firm “cannot fulfill the statement of work in the contract,” said the archdiocese.
“As a result, adequate pastoral care is not available for service members and veterans in the United States’ largest Defense Health Agency medical center either during Holy Week or beyond,” said the statement. “There is one Catholic Army chaplain assigned to Walter Reed Medical Center, but he is in the process of separating from the Army.”
Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, condemned the move. He claims it is an encroachment on the First Amendment guarantee of the Free Exercise of Religion.
“It is incomprehensible that essential pastoral care is taken away from the sick and the aged when it was so readily available,” said Broglio.
“This is a classic case where the adage ‘if it is not broken, do not fix it’ applies. I fear that giving a contract to the lowest bidder overlooked the fact that the bidder cannot provide the necessary service. I earnestly hope that this disdain for the sick will be remedied at once and their First Amendment rights will be respected.”
According to Elizabeth A. Tomlin, general counsel of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), the archdiocese reached out to the “contracting officers at Walter Reed numerous times throughout Holy Week asking for the Franciscans’ Catholic ministry to be reinstated at least through Easter,” and did not receive a response.
Social media posts from the medical center said that Catholic services would be provided throughout Holy Week.
“Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is a welcoming and healing environment that honors and supports a full range of religious, spiritual, and cultural needs,” said a Facebook post.
“While Walter Reed’s chaplain office claims Catholic care is being provided during Holy Week, the AMS maintains that without Catholic priests present at the medical center, service members and veterans are being denied the constitutional right to practice their religion,” said the archdiocese. It also said that the move could cause “irreparable harm” to hospitalized Catholics during the Easter holiday.
A statement from Walter Reed cited by the New York Post said that, “currently a review of the pastoral care contract is under review to ensure it adequately supports the religious needs of our patients and beneficiaries. Although at this time the Franciscan Diocese will not be hosting services on Sunday parishioners of the Diocese while patients at our facilities may still seek their services.”
Related
Related
