The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-08-14
RELIGION IN ARMY
1T is TAKEN SERIOUSLY, SAYS
CHAPLAIN-DEFINITE PROGRAM
BEING ARRANGED FOR MORAL
GUIDANCE OF SOLDIERS.
(By N. G. w. G.. News Service.)

\Dy ~. ". w. ". NEWS OtIVlCc.J
Every who knows Chaplain James
F. Houlihan, U. S. A., realizes that he
can call a spade a spade in language
as sincere and emphatic as almost any
other person in the military establish
ment. He is not much given to camou-
flage and he has some decided ideas
about religion in the Army. Here are
some of his ideas on this subject pre-
pared for the National Catholic We'll
fare Councils News Service.
do you know that religion is taken
seriously in the Army? Do you know
that there is one Chaplain for each
twelve hundred officers and men? Do
you know that the religious work of
the Army is under the leadership of a
wonderfully strong chaplain, Colonel
John T.. Axton? Do you know that
the best priests and ministers of
America are to be the spiritual lead
ers of our soldiers? Do you know that
all officers, from General Pershing
down to the most recently commits
stoned second Lieutenant will back
the Chaplain in everything he does,
on account of the fact that a morally
decent Army will be an efficient and a
great power in stabilizing our nation
al life?
Army life has done much for Ameri-
can youth. The health side of the
Army cannot be questioned. 1t is ad-
mittedly the best approach to normal
health in our national life. 1t makes
a weak man strong and the average
man with health impediments of less
er Importance can become normal,
more quickly, in the Army. than else
where. The veterans of the World
War admit this important fact. The
military training given by the Army
makes the average man more alert,
more sensitive to personal appearance,
more respectful of law and order and
more American. But what of religion
in the Army? Has it any real impor'
lance?
"a priest or minister who desires to
become an army chaplain must be a
high grade man. He is picked by his
church and the selection is done very
carefully. The average chaplain when
he comes to the service is a young
man. He must have good health. His
education is tested and must be ap
proved not only by his church but the
Army authorities as we'll. He must
be a man of good sense, fine spiritua
life, know how to reach men in al
easy natural manner, be a tireles:
worker, value his profession, as thu
representative of God, above all else
be a gentleman at all times and Civ
his comrades in arms a perfect ex
ample of what right living and RICH
thinking can do for the average hu
man being.
"This is the kind of man that is tt
take care of religion in the Army. D
you not think that under two hundre'
, and forty %chaplains of this type. on
, men will be we'll taken care Of? VII
it not be a great comfort to the aver
: age father and mother to know tina
when their boy goes to the Army h
will be in a position to attend Divin
/ service and be helped by a really h,
r man spiritual leader? Will it not al
peal very strongly to the Catholic fan
:. lily to know that a son can find Mas
p and the Sacramento within his reg
r ment and that some fine militar
priest, is always about to help an
e guide this son Alright. ~.
e "When the reorganization program
is completed and our Army slips int
it's normal functions, the Chaplain
will take a most important place
the military establishment of Anne
lea. Watch the religious life of tt
Army. The new Senior Chaplain h;
in mind a very definite program Fl
the moral guidance Of our soldiers.
will be a practical program, and O
u Army will have a spiritual backgroul
N that will pave the way for many bles
u ings and great strength"
s. Chaplain Houlihan has just been a
pointed assistant to the chief of Cha
lains, Col. John T. AXton. In this
tie pacity he will be of great assistan
lg in the development of sane result
or He is intensely interested in recru
n. ing and gained some insight into t
iu- needs of the General Recruiting Sc,
M ice during his connection with I
Recruit Drive Committee.