Episcopal chaplains trained to work in light of DADT repeal
The Army has begun training chaplains for working in a world in which Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a thing of the past, CNN reports.
The Rt. Rev. James B. Magness of the Episcopal Office of Armed Services and Federal Ministries tells CNN:
"to my knowledge, none of my clergy are pushing against this, at least none have told me."
[Oh, but outside ranks, of course, there's plenty of push-back, including from Mississippi governor Haley Barbour, who says he'd bring back DADT in a heartbeat because it's bad for morale.]
Anyway, back to Magness:
"It's a welcome thing, actually, for the entire lifting and repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell.' I'm fully aware, having served a career as a Navy chaplain, that there are some who are unsettled about it, some who are unhappy about it, and some who are downright angry about it," he said.....
"My counterparts in conservative denominations aren't seeing a rush of people looking to leave the service over this. They haven't seen a rush to find the exit door in the military," Magness said.
Meanwhile, neither the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, on the one hand, nor the Officers' Christian Fellowship on the other sees fit to use any of this as fodder for saber-rattling. At least not on the public side of their web sites, and at least not at this very moment.
Gov. Barbour, I work in the Department of Defense (not as a chaplain) and I haven't seen the slightest hint that it's bad for morale!
Paul Davison
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March 27, 2011 4:18 PM