The Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services has accused Walter Reed National Military Medical Center of infringing upon the religious rights of Catholic service members and veterans after the center canceled a pastoral care contract and ordered a community of Catholic priests to “cease and desist” their activities just before Holy Week.
According to a statement by the Catholic archdiocese, Walter Reed issued the order against Holy Name College Friary, a community of Franciscan priests and brothers that has been serving at the center for almost two decades, Fox News Digital reported.
Walter Reed canceled the contract for Catholic Pastoral Care at the end of March, just before Holy Week. The archdiocese claims that a secular defense contracting firm will replace the Franciscans, adding they will not be able to offer the same level of care that Catholic service members and veterans require.
The archdiocese denounced the decision as a violation of the First Amendment’s right to the free exercise of religion. It added that its appeals to have the ministry restored in time for Easter went unanswered.
“It is incomprehensible that essential pastoral care is taken away from the sick and the aged when it was so readily available,” Archbishop Timothy Broglio noted in a statement, according to the news outlet.
“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,” he added. “I earnestly hope that this disdain for the sick will be remedied at once and their First Amendment rights will be respected.”
The Archdiocese stated that although the chaplain’s office claimed to be providing Catholic care during Holy Week, the absence of Catholic priests means that service members and veterans are being deprived of their right to practice their religion. Some fundamental Catholic practices, like celebrating Mass and administering Confession, require an ordained Catholic priest.
In a statement issued Saturday, the medical center said it is a “welcoming and healing environment that honors and supports a full range of religious, spiritual, and cultural needs.”
“Tomorrow, Catholic Easter Services will be provided to those who wish to attend. Services will include a celebration of Mass and the administration of Confession by an ordained Catholic Priest,” the statement went on. “For many years, a Catholic ordained priest has been on staff at WRNMMC providing religious sacraments to service members, veterans and their loved ones. There has also been a pastoral care contract in place to supplement those services provided.”
“Currently a review of the pastoral care contract is under review to ensure it adequately supports the religious needs of our patients and beneficiaries,” the statement said. “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.”
