This upcoming Sunday, the people of Venezuela will hold an election that, if legitimate, would put an end to years of the oppressive Maduro narco-regime. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement in support of the Venezuelan people: “The...
News
Latest News
Rubio: “La Tenacidad y Valentía del Pueblo venezolano Estarán a la Vista”
Este próximo domingo, el pueblo venezolano tendrá una elección que, de ser legítima, pondría fin a años de opresión por parte del narco-régimen de Maduro. El senador estadounidense Marco Rubio (R-FL) grabó un mensaje de video en español y emitió una declaración en...
Rubio, Scott, Colleagues to Biden Admin: No Privileges Should Be Given to 9/11 Terrorist
Twenty-three years ago, the United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. Now, Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in a U.S. court for his role in the attack, has requested the U.S. Department of Justice to allow a prisoner transfer...
Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Continuity in Veterans’ Health Act
As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) opens up new facilities, many veterans are losing access to the VA’s Community Care Program and, consequently, their long-term healthcare providers. Veterans throughout the country have reported a loss of care, including...
Rubio Introduces Bill to Strengthen U.S.-India Security Partnership
The U.S.-India partnership is vital to countering influences from Communist China. In order to strengthen this partnership, it is essential to enhance our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with New Delhi. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)...
Rubio, Colleagues Blast Biden Administration for Leaving Catholic Service Members and Veterans With Insufficient Pastoral Care at Walter Reed
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center issued a “cease and desist order” to Holy Name College Friary, which has provided pastoral care to service members and veterans at Walter Reed for nearly two decades. The Franciscans received the cease and desist order during Holy Week, a sacred and solemn time for Catholics worldwide.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), James Lankford (R-OK), and Jerry Moran (R-KS), along with Representatives Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Jim Banks (R-IN), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Carlos Giménez (R-FL) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin inquiring why the contract was then awarded to a secular contractor which cannot fulfill the statement of work.
- “Depriving service members and veterans, who are receiving care, of the ability to enter into the Paschal Mystery with priests is utterly unconscionable. DHA doctors are advocating for minors to receive experimental gender transition procedures, but no one seems to be advocating for the right of our service members and veterans to receive the most important sacraments during this most sacred time of year.”
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Secretary Austin:
We write with regard to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarding a contract for Catholic Pastoral Care to a for-profit entity that cannot provide Catholic priests. As you know, the Franciscan Friars at Holy Name College Friary have provided Catholic Pastoral Care to service members and veterans at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for nearly two decades. Yet, the DoD served the Holy Name College Friary a cease and desist order on March 31, 2023, leaving Catholics at the largest Defense Health Agency (DHA) medical center without adequate pastoral care during Holy Week.
Holy Week is an important time for all Christians, but for Catholics, the sacred liturgies during this holy time require the presence of validly ordained priests. For example, on Holy Thursday, the Catholic Church celebrates the institution of both the priesthood and the Most Holy Eucharist, which Catholics believe to be the true presence of Jesus Christ in body, blood, soul, and divinity. Depriving service members and veterans, who are receiving care, of the ability to enter into the Paschal Mystery with priests is utterly unconscionable. DHA doctors are advocating for minors to receive experimental gender transition procedures, but no one seems to be advocating for the right of our service members and veterans to receive the most important sacraments during this most sacred time of year.
According to the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS), Walter Reed’s chaplain office has claimed Catholic care was provided by one active duty priest through liturgies during Holy Week. As the chaplain’s office at Walter Reed has acknowledged, pastoral care requires more than just one active duty priest. However, we understand that the new contract was awarded to a for-profit secular defense contracting firm that is unable to fill the needs assigned. Specifically, the firm has no way of providing Catholic priests to Walter Reed, which would deny service members and veterans the rights and abilities to practice their religion and participate in certain practices such as pastoral care and the sacraments which can only be carried out by an ordained Catholic priest, including celebrating Holy Mass and hearing Confessions.
We have made promises to our service members and veterans that if they take care of us, we will take care of them. This extends to not just providing quality healthcare at our nation’s military medical facilities, but by also providing the ability to freely practice their religion to those under the care at these facilities. It is a tenet engrained in the very fabric of who we are as a country, and the DoD’s actions to deny Catholic Pastoral Care from service members and veterans at Walter Reed goes against the morals, way of life, and rights that make up the fabric of our great nation.
Given our glaring concerns about the DoD’s lack of consideration for the needs of Catholic service members and veterans receiving care at Walter Reed, we request answers to the following:
- What factors led to the DoD’s decision to issue the cease and desist order with Holy Name College after two decades of providing consistent pastoral care?
- What considerations did DoD give to awarding the new contract to a for-profit secular firm given that this entity cannot provide Catholic pastoral care?
- Did a priest celebrate any of the following services during the Triduum: Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday: Service of the Lord’s Passion, Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday: Mass of Easter Day? If so, please provide confirmation.
- Are there Catholic priests currently available at Walter Reed to provide care to service members and veterans? If so, how many, and how much longer will the current active duty priest be at Walter Reed?
- What pastoral care was provided to service members and veterans at Walter Reed during Holy Week?
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,