AmericanPapist Comments
The Superintendant's action offends me. It's inane to try not to offend everyone, because there are people who are reasonably offended and people who are unreasonably offended. One can only choose who one will risk offending. In the Superintendant's case, he has chosen to offend Christians.
"The department recognizes the importance of a state government agency to be inclusive and respectful of the varied ethnicities [irrelevant to this case], cultures [also irrelevant to this case] and beliefs of our employees, their families, and the citizens at large."
Except for those who are Christian.
After almost 20 years as a police officer, I am still amazed at the number of police officers without spines who rise to high leadership positions in police departments. Off-hand, I can think of only 3 officers that I have ever worked with who I believe to be cowards. I never wanted any of them to back me up on a call. I wonder how the cops who had to work the street with the spineless wonders who later rose to high positions felt about working with them?
"Flaherty cited... a Fredericksburg City Council ban on sectarian prayer."
Sectarian prayer? What other kind is there? Atheist prayer?
These Evangelical Protestant chaplains who resigned should take a page from the Catholic police and fire chaplains in Virginia, DC and Maryland. The Catholic chaplains do a wonderful job of ministering to Catholic Police officers and firefighters and their families making avilable to them the fullness of what the faith has to offer. At the same time, not once have any of the Catholic chaplains when praying at an interfaith gathering (induction or academy graduation) felt any need to invoke the Blessed Mother, St. Anthony or bless the gathering with a relic.
In my police department, our Catholic chaplains are real Catholics, not the squishy kind beloved by Cafeteria Catholics. They are not ashamed of Jesus.
Katherine, the Catholic chaplains sound pretty deficient, just kidding. However, to craft a policy which eliminates the use of terms Jesus or Christ is simply assinine and showcases political correctness run amuk. Moreover, people seem to forget that these chaplains have First Amendment rights, which are likely being violated. This may be a newsflash to some folks, but the First Amendment is supposed to protect language which some folks deem "offensive." People don't lose their First Amendment rights simply because they work for the government. Lastly, this directive sounds like an unlawful prior restraint on speech. I wonder if Mr. Flaherty has too much time on his hands to come up with this stuff, or was it in response to a real, rather than imagined, complaint. I no longer say, Happy Holidays, because of nonsense like this. I say what I mean: Merry Christmas. Tom
ps Where is the aclu when you need them?
People are way too quick to resign jobs these days (especially when resignation doesn't put their mortgage at risk). People should just do their jobs conscientiously. If management wants to fire you for doing it, at least it's on management's conscience (not to mention, their legal staff gets worried).
People are way too quick to resign jobs these days (especially when resignation doesn't put their mortgage at risk).
Aye. Make those giving the illegitmate orders go through the trouble and bad publicity of firing you.
bill912,
But are they ashamed of the Blessed Mother?
The community I live and work in tends to be very forward with their expression of Christianity. Any prayer at our work is done very clearly - and at length - in the name of Jesus Christ. Our boss is Hindu ... and closes her eyes and says Amen along with everyone else. No offence is taken. Nothing is interpreted as being forced down her throat. I find the lack of tolerance in the US quite hard to understand.
Again, why are Catholics so quick to accept Protestant intolerance towards the Blessed Mother, St. Anthony and blessing with relics?
Katherine, I'm sure the Blessed Mother would be out there stomping for the Abortion Party (aka Democratic Party) this election season. Tom
TJM,
I take it that is your way of saying you have no answer to the question I posed.
The Catholic chaplains surely pray"In the name of the Father and of the Don and of the Holy Spirit'?
"The Catholic chaplains surely pray"In the name of the Father and of the Don and of the Holy Spirit'?"
Only those with mob connections!
And those not with the Mafia do not invoke the Holy Trinity by name when asked to pray at interfaith gatherings.
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