photos from Amy Proctor.
Hundreds of new recruits in the Army’s Basic Training worship every week at this gymnasium. Below are soldiers kneeling to pray after receiving communion.
Communion
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October 22nd, 2006 at 11:23 pm
What awesome pictures!
October 22nd, 2006 at 11:31 pm
It is isn’t it
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:27 am
There are many soldiers who have religion and they are protected by the 1st amendment of the Constitution to have the freedom to worship. Whether in Iraq or in the USA, their freedom of religous practice in worship is protected. I think that’s a great thing.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:07 am
Theres a little thing in the constitution called seperation of church and state. Every hear of that. Forcing this kind of religious ceremony on military personnel shouldn’t be allowed. Tax payers pay for them, that makes them our employees so they shouldn’t be praying. I bet you wouldn’t be saying it was so great if they were bowing on prayer rugs.
October 23rd, 2006 at 9:50 pm
Really, Morgan? Please cite the “separation of church and state” clause in the US Constitution.
Right, there is none.
Forcing this kind of religious ceremony?? Are you serious? I took the photos myself. This is a VOLUNTARY service that devout Catholics attend becuase they have a constitutional right to worship. Read the 1st Amendment of the Constitution.
No, sugar, soldiers like my husband are NOT your employees. They are not elected. Oh, and did you know that there is an opening prayer in the Congress every day?
One of my favorite photos my husband brought back from Baghdad is of one of his soldiers praying on a prayer rug. Yep, the Army allows muslim soldiers to stop 3 times a day and pray. They provide the prayer mat. I’ll try to find it and post a link to it. I have no problem with that and nor should any American. We have the right to worship and since the military moves Americans away from their places of worship (soldiers) so there is an obligation to provide an outlet of expression of their religion. My husband’s in the chaplain’s corps and this is just the way it is.
Oddly, the sight of a Christian praying is the scariest sight to a liberal. I think it’s funny.
October 23rd, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Oh, by the way, after Mass soldiers lined up to ask my husband where they could get Bibles, rosaries and prayer books provided to them, since they didn’t have their own. Who was FORCING them to do that????
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Their salaries are paid by tax dollars. That makes them my employees. I don’t believe in forcing religion on government employees. They have to do that so they don’t get in trouble with the big boss. You know, the Commander and Chief.
October 24th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
Morgon, your opinion might be better received if you didn’t condescend in the process. Soldiers contribute to the tax base. They are not your employees, but your defenders.
December 3rd, 2006 at 11:30 am
Morgan,
As a U.S Soldier, I am offended by your implication that I am an employee of every tax payer in the country. My job is to defend the rights of all Americans whether that is religion, speech or any of our other rights. (that includes my rights and any other Soldiers rights also.) Please don’t take this as my putting you down for your lack of information on the militaries practices. Rather, please let me explain to you exactly what goes on in the military as far as religious rights go. Every soldier is provided the right to practice any religion they follow, be that Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Wiccan, None, or any of the many other religious faiths that I have failed to mention due to the vast diversity of religions. As a leader, It does not matter whether I agree with my Soldiers practices, it is my duty to protect their rights to follow their religion. (Something I do not see enough of in the civilian world) Rather than suppressing religious rights in the name of Separation of Church and State, doesn’t it make more sense to be more understanding of everyones religious practices. I am currently deployed to Iraq and every effort is made to accomodate everyone. My wife is currently in Basic Training where even with the strict timelines and control of trainees, an emphasis is put on giving trainees the opportunity to practice their beliefs or have down time for Soldiers not attending any services.