What about Military Chaplains?
by Larry Kerschner
I was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967. During Basic Training about once a month there was a mass meeting with the military chaplain in which we were allowed to ask questions. When I questioned the legality of the war in Vietnam under international law, the chaplain invited me to sit down and be quiet. At the time I just saw the chaplain as another officer with authority over me. Even though I attended Catholic school from K-12, I had only political questions about the war not ethical or moral questions. I had vaguely heard of the Just War Theory but had no idea how antithetical this argument is to the true message of the non-violent Christ. Since then I have thought about the position of the chaplain in the military.
The Old Testament refers to priests accompanying troops into war. “And it shall be when ye are come nigh unto the battle that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people.” (Deuteronomy 20:2-4) Another example is found in Joshua 6:2-5.
For Romans the presence of a priest to read the entrails of sacrificed animals before each battle was essential. In Imperial Rome the priests proclaimed war on advice from the Senate making all wars just and holy. This service to the State by the priests continued after Constantine’s time as it became acceptable for those calling themselves Christian to be part of the Roman military. The Council of Ratisbon (742 AD) first officially approved the use of chaplains for armies. About this time Martin of Tours, a pagan Roman soldier, supposedly shared his cloak (“cappa”) with a beggar after which he had a vision of Christ and was converted. His cloak became a relic and was carried into battle by Frankish kings. Eventually all clergy affiliated with the military came to be called “capellani,” or in French “chapelains.”
The farther the Church was removed from the time of Christ the more religious function and the military role of chaplains became blurred. As recently as 1984, Pope John Paul II designated Franciscan John Capistrano as the patron saint of military chaplains. The Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes says those “who are dedicated to the service of their country and are members of the armed forces should regard themselves as ministering to the security and the freedom of their peoples, and while they are performing this duty in the right manner they are genuinely contributing to the establishment of peace.” The paid killer is thus transformed into the peacemaker.
Some argue that the military chaplain is in the best position to guide and enrich the spiritual life of those in the military. The problem with this argument is that all chaplains are immersed and indoctrinated in the military culture. They are first a military officer with allegiance to the military. The (mostly male) chaplain’s salary, orders, duties, and promotions are all controlled by the Department of War. The chaplain may claim the final word in the spiritual realm but according to Army Regulation AR-165-20, Chapter 3 “Commanders are responsible for the religious, spiritual, moral and ethical well being of all personnel in their commands. The staff chaplain has the primary responsibility to assist the command in the planning, development, and implementation of the command responsibilities.”
The leaders of all churches – Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Evangelical – should be ashamed of their part in subverting the original teachings of Christ. The only function of those ministering to anyone in the military should be opening their eyes to the non-violent approach to life of Christ.