Sunshine Sentinel

Earlier this year, amid the sacred and solemn time of Holy Week, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center issued a “cease and desist order” to Holy Name College Friary. The Franciscans have provided pastoral care to service members and veterans at Walter Reed for nearly two decades. Following pressure from members of Congress and Catholics around the country, Franciscan priests will be allowed to return to their ministry at Walter Reed.

US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement after the Department of Defense reversed its decision to grant the award to a secular contractor who cannot fulfill the statement of work. 

• “It is irreconcilable that during the presidency of the second Catholic leader in our nation's history, the Catholic ministry at Walter Reed was not renewed. Following strong criticism from both Catholics around the country and US legislators, the Biden Administration eventually reversed its decision. I will continue to fight to ensure service members and veterans at home and abroad can fully live out their faith.” —Senator Rubio

Want more information?

• April 2023: Rubio, Colleagues Blast Biden Administration for Leaving Catholic Service Members and Veterans With Insufficient Pastoral Care at Walter Reed

 

RUBIO ON THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S REVERSAL OF GIVING PASTORAL CARE TO MILITARY AT WALTER REED

Earlier this year, during the solemn and sacred time of Holy Week, Walter Reed Military Medical Center issued a “cease and desist” order to Holy Name College Friary. Franciscan friars have provided pastoral care to members of the military and veterans at Walter Reed for nearly two decades. After pressure from members of Congress and US Catholics, the Franciscans will be allowed to return to their ministry at Walter Reed.

US Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement after the Department of Defense reversed its decision to award the award to a secular contractor unable to get the job done.

• “It is inconceivable that during the presidency of the second Catholic leader in our country's history, the Catholic ministry in Walter Reed has not been renewed. Following strong criticism from both US Catholics and US lawmakers, the Biden Administration finally reversed its decision. I will continue to fight to ensure that members of our military and veterans of our country both in the US and abroad can fully live their faith." —Senator Rubio

Original source can be found here.