Three local veterans groups have accused VA officials at the Houston National Cemetery of banning such religious words as "God" and censoring their prayers at soldiers' funerals.
For background, read Houston Pastors Ask VA Official be Fired and also read Feds Fail to Ban Jesus from Memorial Day at Houston VA Cemetery
-- From "Houston National Cemetery in Prayer Dispute" by James Dao, New York Time 8/30/11
The [Veterans Affairs'] new enforcement outraged members of local veterans organizations who have long infused their ceremonies with references to God. This summer, they filed a lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs that has turned the national cemetery into a battleground over the role of prayer in veterans’ burials.
The plaintiffs, aided by a conservative legal group, the Liberty Institute, contend they should be allowed to use a Veterans of Foreign Wars script dating from World War I that refers to the deceased as “a brave man” with an “abiding faith in God” and that seeks comfort from an “almighty and merciful God.” The institute has publicized the dispute nationwide with slick videos and a Web site declaring that “Jesus is not welcome at gravesides.”
The lawsuit, which alleges religious discrimination by the government, and the videos have generated angry letters and Internet commentary against the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as demands from members of the Texas Congressional delegation, mostly Republicans, that the Obama administration fire the Houston cemetery director, Arleen Ocasio.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Judge seeks settlement in VA discrimination suit" by Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press 8/22/11
The lawsuit filed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 4, the American Legion Post 586 and the National Memorial Ladies says VA officials barred prayer and religious speech in burials at the Houston cemetery unless families submit a specific prayer or message in writing to the cemetery's director. The lawsuit also accuses VA officials of not allowing them to use religious words such as "God" or "Jesus."
During a hearing on the lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes . . . criticized what he believed were efforts by the VA to portray members of the National Memorial Ladies, a local nonprofit that honors veterans and their families, as "old ladies ... attacking people" with religious messages.
Hughes also [said] that attorneys for the veterans groups have continued to amplify their claims by "supplying excruciating detail," including affidavits by veterans and relatives who believe they have been discriminated against by VA officials.
"We have to solve this problem," the judge said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Showing posts with label funeral. Show all posts
Showing posts with label funeral. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Houston Pastors Ask VA Official be Fired
Houston pastors have planned a July 4 protest calling for removal of the head of the city's veterans cemetery for censoring religious expression at ceremonies, including the use of "God bless you" at funerals and praying in Jesus' name.
For background, read Feds Fail to Ban Jesus from Memorial Day at Houston VA Cemetery
UPDATE 7/26/11: Calls for Congressional probe into ban of Christian prayers at VA cemetery
UPDATE 7/21/11: Lawmaker says he'll 'zero out' VA official's job
UPDATE 7/18/11: VA denies censorship at Houston National Cemetery
-- From "VA accused in Texas lawsuit of religious bias" by The Associated Press 7/1/11
Several Houston veterans groups are accusing officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of religious discrimination, saying they are being banned at soldiers' funerals from using certain religious words such as "God" and are having their prayers censored.
The VFW and the American Legion say that on at least four occasions in the last two months, VA officials told them that prayer and religious speech could no longer be included in burial rituals they take part in at the Houston cemetery unless families submit a specific prayer or message in writing to Arleen Ocasio, the cemetery's director.
The National Memorial Ladies, a local nonprofit that honors veterans and their families, accuses Ocasio of telling the group it could not use religious words such as "God" or "Jesus" or speak a religious message when talking to veterans' families at the cemetery. The group also said it was told it had to remove the phrase "God Bless" from condolence cards it gives to families at funerals.
The groups also accused Ocasio and the VA of closing the chapel at Houston's cemetery, removing the cross and Bible that were inside and basically turning the building into a "storage facility."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Legion Supporting Religious Censorship Charge Against VA" by The American Legion (posted at The Sacramento Bee) 7/1/11
On Tuesday, June 28, Liberty Institute in Dallas filed court papers alleging that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the director of the Houston National Cemetery, Arleen Ocasio, are engaging in "religious viewpoint discrimination" in violation of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The American Legion will support the case as an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") as soon as possible.
"The hostile and discriminatory actions by the Veterans Affairs officials in Houston are outrageous, unconstitutional and must stop," said Jeff Mateer, general counsel of Liberty Institute. "Government officials who engage in religious discrimination against citizens are breaking the law. Sadly, this seems to be a pattern of behavior at the Houston VA National Cemetery."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "VA: 'God' Allowed at Cemetery" by Sally MacDonald, FOX TV-26 Houston 7/1/11
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is responding for the first time to complaints the Houston National Cemetery director has gone rogue.
VA Press Secretary Josh Taylor issued the following statement:
"Invoking the name of God or Jesus is not only allowed, it is common at VA National Cemeteries across the country. However, VA's policy is that VA-sponsored honor guards should not make recitations at commital services unless requested to do so by the deceased's survivor(s.)"
Taylor also directed FOX 26 to a little known policy dated 2007. It says Honor Guards "shall not provide texts of any such recitations to the deceased's survivors for consideration."
Lawmakers are beginning to call for the firing of the cemetery's director.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Pastors: Fire VA cemetery chief who banned 'God bless'" posted at World Net Daily 6/30/11
Speaking for the [Houston Area Pastor Council], Pastor Willie Davis, an Army Special Forces veteran, said the pastors concur "wholeheartedly" with a call for dismissal by Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, "for these egregious attacks on the sacred right of expressing religious faith on the hallowed ground of our National Cemetery on behalf of those who died to protect that right."
"There can be no better way to spend a few minutes on Independence Day than to stand together as a community at the National Cemetery and make our voices heard," Davis said.
In court Tuesday, Judge Hughes rebuked VA attorney Fred Hinrichs for being unable to answer her question about whether the chapel was open, noting a simple phone call to the cemetery could provide an answer.
Hughes gave the government until July 21 to investigate and respond to the the complaint.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
For background, read Feds Fail to Ban Jesus from Memorial Day at Houston VA Cemetery
UPDATE 7/26/11: Calls for Congressional probe into ban of Christian prayers at VA cemetery
UPDATE 7/21/11: Lawmaker says he'll 'zero out' VA official's job
UPDATE 7/18/11: VA denies censorship at Houston National Cemetery
-- From "VA accused in Texas lawsuit of religious bias" by The Associated Press 7/1/11
Several Houston veterans groups are accusing officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of religious discrimination, saying they are being banned at soldiers' funerals from using certain religious words such as "God" and are having their prayers censored.
The VFW and the American Legion say that on at least four occasions in the last two months, VA officials told them that prayer and religious speech could no longer be included in burial rituals they take part in at the Houston cemetery unless families submit a specific prayer or message in writing to Arleen Ocasio, the cemetery's director.
The National Memorial Ladies, a local nonprofit that honors veterans and their families, accuses Ocasio of telling the group it could not use religious words such as "God" or "Jesus" or speak a religious message when talking to veterans' families at the cemetery. The group also said it was told it had to remove the phrase "God Bless" from condolence cards it gives to families at funerals.
The groups also accused Ocasio and the VA of closing the chapel at Houston's cemetery, removing the cross and Bible that were inside and basically turning the building into a "storage facility."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Legion Supporting Religious Censorship Charge Against VA" by The American Legion (posted at The Sacramento Bee) 7/1/11
On Tuesday, June 28, Liberty Institute in Dallas filed court papers alleging that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the director of the Houston National Cemetery, Arleen Ocasio, are engaging in "religious viewpoint discrimination" in violation of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The American Legion will support the case as an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") as soon as possible.
"The hostile and discriminatory actions by the Veterans Affairs officials in Houston are outrageous, unconstitutional and must stop," said Jeff Mateer, general counsel of Liberty Institute. "Government officials who engage in religious discrimination against citizens are breaking the law. Sadly, this seems to be a pattern of behavior at the Houston VA National Cemetery."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "VA: 'God' Allowed at Cemetery" by Sally MacDonald, FOX TV-26 Houston 7/1/11
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is responding for the first time to complaints the Houston National Cemetery director has gone rogue.
VA Press Secretary Josh Taylor issued the following statement:
"Invoking the name of God or Jesus is not only allowed, it is common at VA National Cemeteries across the country. However, VA's policy is that VA-sponsored honor guards should not make recitations at commital services unless requested to do so by the deceased's survivor(s.)"
Taylor also directed FOX 26 to a little known policy dated 2007. It says Honor Guards "shall not provide texts of any such recitations to the deceased's survivors for consideration."
Lawmakers are beginning to call for the firing of the cemetery's director.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Pastors: Fire VA cemetery chief who banned 'God bless'" posted at World Net Daily 6/30/11
Speaking for the [Houston Area Pastor Council], Pastor Willie Davis, an Army Special Forces veteran, said the pastors concur "wholeheartedly" with a call for dismissal by Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, "for these egregious attacks on the sacred right of expressing religious faith on the hallowed ground of our National Cemetery on behalf of those who died to protect that right."
"There can be no better way to spend a few minutes on Independence Day than to stand together as a community at the National Cemetery and make our voices heard," Davis said.
In court Tuesday, Judge Hughes rebuked VA attorney Fred Hinrichs for being unable to answer her question about whether the chapel was open, noting a simple phone call to the cemetery could provide an answer.
Hughes gave the government until July 21 to investigate and respond to the the complaint.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day 2010 "For You"
Today, most Americans remember "the sacrifices of those who fell in military service to the country."
-- From "Silence, ceremonies to mark sacrifice of military" by the CNN Wire Staff 5/31/10
Vice President Joe Biden will take the place of President Obama for the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington, the most prestigious military cemetery in the country, where many of the soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried.
Obama is in Chicago, Illinois, spending the night with his family at their home for the first time in more than a year. He will mark the holiday with remarks at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, about an hour outside Chicago.
Back in Washington, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will officially recognize six names added to the black granite wall in May.
The addition brings the number of men and women who were killed or remain missing in action to 58,267.
. . . the National Moment of Remembrance [3:00pm eastern time] -- established by Congress -- asks Americans to stop whatever they are doing and observe a minute's silence. The time was chosen because it is when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday . . .
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
-- From "Silence, ceremonies to mark sacrifice of military" by the CNN Wire Staff 5/31/10
Vice President Joe Biden will take the place of President Obama for the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington, the most prestigious military cemetery in the country, where many of the soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried.
Obama is in Chicago, Illinois, spending the night with his family at their home for the first time in more than a year. He will mark the holiday with remarks at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, about an hour outside Chicago.
Back in Washington, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will officially recognize six names added to the black granite wall in May.
The addition brings the number of men and women who were killed or remain missing in action to 58,267.
. . . the National Moment of Remembrance [3:00pm eastern time] -- established by Congress -- asks Americans to stop whatever they are doing and observe a minute's silence. The time was chosen because it is when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday . . .
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Truth About High Point Church and the Gay Gulf War Veteran
Contrary to the mainstream media reports, High Point Church did not refuse to host the funeral of a gay man.
From "The Truth About High Point Church and the Gay Gulf War Veteran" by Paul Edwards, posted 8/16/07 at Townhall.com
The mainstream media wants you to believe that a conservative evangelical church deep in the Bible belt has refused to bury a Gulf War veteran because he was gay. Some in the Christian media want you to believe that the church hasn’t shown the love of Jesus to a dead man’s family. Neither charge is anywhere near the truth.
From "The Truth About High Point Church and the Gay Gulf War Veteran" by Paul Edwards, posted 8/16/07 at Townhall.com
The mainstream media wants you to believe that a conservative evangelical church deep in the Bible belt has refused to bury a Gulf War veteran because he was gay. Some in the Christian media want you to believe that the church hasn’t shown the love of Jesus to a dead man’s family. Neither charge is anywhere near the truth.
Here are the facts. High Point Church, a non-denominational church in Arlington, Texas, had been praying for Cecil Sinclair after Cecil’s brother Lee (the only member of the Sinclair family who was a member of the church) requested prayer for his brother who had been awaiting a heart transplant.
When Cecil Sinclair’s health became critical last week, the family called a staff member from the church to be with them at the hospital. In the hospital, in the moments immediately following Mr. Sinclair’s death, the family asked the staff member if the church would be open to holding a memorial service for their loved one. The staff member assured them the church would be available to help the family in any way appropriate, a response any pastor would give in that situation. Cecil was not a member of High Point Church, yet this church selflessly and sacrificially ministered to his family in the wake of his death, preparing and delivering food for the family and one hundred relatives and friends, along with many other expressions of kindness. The church offered to produce a video retrospective of Mr. Sinclair’s life for use during the memorial service. When the family provided the pictures to the church it was then that the church learned of their intention to make the memorial service a celebration of Cecil Sinclair’s gay lifestyle. According to a statement on the High Point Church Web site, one of the photos provided by the family showed a man touching another man inappropriately, along with other unsuitable photos. The family also requested that “an associate of an openly homosexual choir” officiate at the service and that the homosexual choir sing during the service. “It became clear to the church staff that the family was requesting an openly homosexual service at High Point Church—which is not our policy to allow,” the statement on the church’s Web site said. After initially agreeing to host the memorial service, the church informed the family it could no longer do so based on the direction the family wanted to take it. The church then secured—and paid for—another location for the memorial service, which the family declined. The church also produced the memorial video without the inappropriate photos. Read the rest of this article.
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