LOMBARD—During a recent visit to northern Illinois, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese of the Military Services-USA, cited a vital need for more chaplains, recalled their presence since the time of George Washington and warned of threats to liberty that lurk in the not-too-distant future.
His talk, “Defending Religious Liberty in the Military Services,” was presented at at the annual dinner of Catholic Citizens of Illinois.

Military chaplains “must not be forced to act contrary” to their consciences, especially in religious matters, the archbishop said, as he cited the Second Vatican Council’s “Declaration on Religious Liberty: and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

“I am not certain what tomorrow will bring,” he said. “What is certain is that the Archdiocese of the Military Services will continue to promote sound doctrine and protect the rights of Catholics in the armed services.”

“What is important is to retain that priests cannot be forced to act contrary to their consciences. That must be defended at all costs,” he said.

The basic Judeo-Christian ethics of this nation cannot be denied, he added.

“I would never have dreamt that my role would have to include defending the religious freedoms of Catholics in the military and VA services,” he told 200 members of CCI at the event at the Carlisle, in Lombard.

Archbishop Broglio, 65, is a native of Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1977, and was made an archbishop by St. Pope John Paul II in 2001.

He was named the fourth Archbishop for Military Services U.S.A. in 2008 on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

He serves on the subcommittee for the Defense of Marriage and is an observer to the Committee for International Justice and Peace.

He said that challenges such as abortion and same-sex issues may require military personnel, including nurses in the services, to seek advice from Catholics of moral integrity and of higher military rank, if their religious liberty seems threatened.

“Integrity is essential to the authenticity of the human person, and values will help shape the nation,” he said.

There are 1.8 million Catholics in the armed forces, in the Department of Veterans Affairs and among those who serve the federal government outside of the U.S. boarders, but not enough chaplains, he said.
The number of chaplains is low because a priest, following seminary training, must serve in a regular parish for three years, and some succumb to health or aging problems, which further limits the number of chaplains.

Their work includes administering the sacraments and grief counseling, but can also mean performing works of extreme bravery under fire, such as the acts of Chaplain Emil Kapuan, a WWII and Korean War veteran.

Father Kapuan’s cause for canonization is open and may be recognized this fall. His great works of mercy and bravery also won him the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit, V Bronze Star and the Medal of Honor.

In addressing questions from the audience on the state of healthcare for veterans, Archbishop Broglio, who is also a member of the Subcommittee for Health Care, said vouches should be issued to veterans for use in any health care facility of their choice. A voucher system would work well for those in need of medical care, he said.

He also said that military personnel of many different faiths can serve the United States with honor and he has met many that have been “hand-selected” in academies. All military personnel must take an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, the Archbishop said.

All Americans have the God-given right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” as stated in the Declaration of Independence, he reminded the audience. Those rights are “endowed by our Creator, and worth the effort to save,” he stressed.

He reiterated that integrity is important in both military life and in religious life. It is what saints are made of, he noted.

Archbishop Broglio said that the life of Saint Thomas More, who was martyred in England in 1535 for refusing to deny the Church’s teachings, and whose relics are now in Washington D.C., teaches the faithful that fundamental integrity is what allows us to sleep peacefully at night, look honestly in the mirror and contribute to the value of the human race.

He also quoted Saint Pope John Paul II and Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI who have both stated that the separation of Church and State cannot mean that the church must be silent on certain issues. And, it is a truth that religion cannot be corralled in the sacristies, because it is a part of the heart of every human person.

The Archdiocese of Military Services U.S.A. is funded by four annual collections on military installations, also by the Knights of Columbus, Catholic extensions, direct mail appeals, home missions and grants for specific projects. A national collection happens every three years at the discretion of each local bishop.

The CCI was founded in 1996 to be a resource for the media and to answer the call of the Second Vatican Council for genuine lay involvement in the life of the Church and society.