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”It’s simple. They want water. I have it, as long as they agree to get baptized.”
Sunday, April 6th, 2003Quote from an army chaplain who won’t allow soldiers in water-scarce Iraq to drink or bathe in his 500-gallon pool until they accept Jesus.
5 Responses to “”It’s simple. They want water. I have it, as long as they agree to get baptized.””
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If he’s an Army chaplain, I want to know who the 500 gallon tank of water really belongs to! Although, even if he owns the tank, the water, used his own money to have it shipped, and is not getting a check from the US government… this is still pretty shameful.
It has been my experience that army chaplains are some of the greatest representatives for their religion. As a senior medic in the Ranger Bn I had the opportunity to work closely with some of the best. They had a balance of acceptance and âtoleranceâ while keeping to their faith. They knew how to work around guys whose virtues where of the highest caliber, but social morals (drinkinâ , screwinâ, fightinâ) were less than what one would call “Christ-like”. They understood the type of people they were working with and would never have tried to coerce religion. Their doors were always open and were willing to listen to a mans troubles what ever they might be. Many had background that gave them an intimate understanding. I have had chaplains who were recovered heroin addicts, Infantry platoon leaders, one of the main characters depicted in Blackhawk Down and winner of The Best Ranger competition is now an outstanding army chaplain. I hope you donât let unfortunate circumstance that put this poor example of an army chaplain in the headlines be your only impression of the militaries religious leaders. They act as counselors, mediators, and pseudo-psychologist who are far better qualified than the âlicensedâ shrinks who havenât spent a day in the field with the men, and donât have a first hand clue of what the pressures of combat can do to a person.
I have to agree with Devin. I worked with some of the best Physicians and Psychiatrists while in the Navy, but no one had that “midas” touch like a chaplain. I’m not religious by any stretch of the imagination, but Navy chaplains did more for my mental well being than anyone else. Don’t let one bad apple spoil the batch.
This guy needs to be disciplined, if not drummed out.
I have no problem whatsoever with chaplains serving soldiers who are already of their religion. I have big problems with such aggressive recruiting, especially coercive attempts at conversion, on the public’s dime.
Also, he’s taking advantage of the war, which I find pretty despicable. I’d have to think that soldiers, who’ve been involved in combat and killed people or seen people killed, are probably extra easy marks for promises of being cleansed of sin.
He’s the religious version of an ambulance chaser.
For blaspheming the sacrament of baptism, bribing soldiers with “spiritual goodies,” and wasting perfectly good water — this man should be given a lengthy underwater baptism of his own.