The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-14
ARMY AND NAVY CHAPLA|Ns.

The Catholic Bulletin takes much
pleasure in publishing the subJolned
letter, written by a Chaplain in the
United States Army, with view or
interesting the Catholics of the coun-
try in the matter of better provision
for the spiritual care of Catholic SOL
diers. The writer of the letter is one
who has labored long and hard in the
service of our soldiers. He speaks
from actual experience; his words
merit serious attention. He is a chap
lain in the army, and treats only OF
the army. But, in fact, his observa-
tions apply equally to the navy. AT
the present time there are six Catho-
lie chaplains in the navy: there is need
of more if the proportion of Catholics
on our war-ships is duly considered.
But the case is with the navy as it is
with the army: the fault lies, not with
the government, but with Catholics
themselves, who fail to turn to advan-
tage the good will and impartiality OF
the government.
LETTER OF AN ARMY CHAPLAIN.
"Six years ago we had twelve posi-
tions allotted to Catholics, and today
we have sixteen But with the twelve
as well as with the sixteen, the same
conditions obtained, that is, short
age of applicants. There are two va
cancies now, to be filled by Catholic
priests The Protestants are turning
Washington upside down trying to get
these places filed by their own minis
ters Inasmuch as these vacancies do
not belong to us by law, but were only
assigned through the courtesy and
kindness of the War Department, they
can be filled by Protestants at any
time And while the War Department
is ever anxious to get priests, and
willing to put up with many incon-
veniences rather than diminish their
number, still, it cannot continue to
leave regiments without chaplains in
definitely, and may at any time be
forced to fill these places with Protest
ants. And once we yield our grip on
those positions, we can never regain
them. The original vacancies as well
as the increase came from the en-
largement of the Army, as the Protest
ants would not relinquish one position
they already held. The worst feature
of the whole affair, is that there is a
probability of an increase of sixteen
chaplains in our Army during the COM
ing winter, and of these we ought to
get four, making total of twenty.
But unless we promptly fill the exist
ing vacancies, the War Department
will not be willing to permit four
more regiments to be indefinitely
without chaplains.
"a few years ago there was clam
or in the country for Catholic Chap
lains, and the Government was fire.
quently styled 'bigoted,' because we
were not properly represented. It
would seem as though the title was
fI1-merited, and that we ourselves are
the real offenders. 1t may be suggest
ed that while Chaplains are loaned to
the Service, they always belong to
their bishops, and it would be mat
ter of some comfort to them If their
bishops would keep in close touch
with their priests in the Army and
the Navy, and make them feel that
after career of honor in the Army
and the Navy, they may return to
their Dioceses and there receive the
same consideration for their work as
they would have received for similar
work in the Diocesan field. Chaplains
may enter the service for limited
period.
''But there is another matter which
demands immediate attention, and
that is, the care of the soldiers when
they are located in Posts, where there
is no Catholic Chaplain. 1t is true
that some of these are very we'll at
tended by priests in nearby parishes,
and some are visited occasionally, but
the large majority are totally neglect.
ed, and the soldiers never get an op-
portunity of going to Mass or of re-
ceiving the Sacraments. have just
n6 VII a nf
inaries whittier I went to appeal to
our future priests on behalf of our sol
diers, that they, through love of God
and of country, may do all in their
power to keep the faith alive among
the Catholic soldiers. The interest
and enthusiasm displayed everywhere
in soldiers and the many expressions
of devotion to such a work, convince
me that we are not lacking in priests
who have the proper spirit of sacrifice
necessary for this special vocation
On my trip visited many Army Posts
some indeed, among the most import
ant in the country, and I found that
while in many cases, priests never
enter the gate, protestant teachers
and the Y. M. G. A. secretaries were
constant and consistent in their eff
forts to get Catholics under theil
Wig. IOunu perfect system III Op
Grafton for tabulating soldiers where
by they can keep in touch with then
as long as they are in the army. Wha
chance, I ask, has an ordinary Catho
lie soldier of preserving the Faith o
his Fathers under such circumstan
ces? We have the same right to en-
ter Army Posts and to care for ou
own as have the protestants, and tn,
Government and Army officers are al
ways very willing TO help us, If W.
only seek their aid.
Probably the greatest menace i
the progress of the Catholic Church il
our Army today, is the Y. M. G. A
They are building establishments i
every Army Post, and while pretend
ing to be non-sectarian they are 4