Obama Orders VA Chapels to Cover Christian Symbols

I went to the VA Hospital in Iron Mountain today on business. While there I stopped at the Chapel and found pinky-purple curtains with mesh at the top, covering the altar. (You know the type. They use them between sick patients in the hospital).

I stopped in my tracks, shocked at what I saw. I peeked behind the curtain, and found what used to be the welcoming part of the chapel, the Cross, a picture of Jesus, and other Christian icons familiar to the majority of Americans.

I found Chaplain Bob Mueller, to ask what the meaning was of this change. This is what he told me.

"A couple of months ago, an order came down from Washington DC to cover all things associated with Christianity in the VA. Their solution is to cover everything in all the VA Chapels across the country."

Chaplain Bob went on to say, "A few weeks ago an official from the Madison VA came down here to tell me to 'stop talking about Jesus, and to stop reading Scripture out loud.'"

Chaplain Bob also said that the rest of the Obama plan is to send more curtains to cover the rest of the stained glass windows, because there are Christian symbols on the stained glass.

These photos reveal future plans by the White House.

To use the same phrase President Obama so 'eloquently' used concerning other matters at the VA, 'I'm mad as hell ..."

As Americans, we need to stand together to stop this insanity.

At the conclusion of a religious worship service, the chaplain, or designee, must prepare the chapel for the succeeding service, if one follows immediately. Otherwise, the chapel is to be arranged for private use by patients, and all sectarian symbols must be removed or covered from view.

The construction of a chapel for the exclusive use of a particular religious or spiritual group is prohibited. No permanent (non-moveable) religious symbols are to be incorporated in the construction or renovation of chapels.

statues are not hidden when the chapel is used for Catholic Mass or protestant services or by groups or individuals that identify with the Christian faith.

The federal government recognizes the wide diversity of different faith groups in existence. The VA policy on Spiritual and Pastoral Care is to "uphold the free exercise of religion by all medical, domiciliary, and nursing home patients in the health care facility. This includes providing or facilitating appropriate worship opportunities." It also requires that the chapel be available for all faiths for prayer, worship, meditation, etc. and therefore be religiously neutral when not used for services or by Christian-based groups. This allows for our patients and their families who do not identify with Christianity to use the room for prayer, meditation or reflection.

To facilitate this policy, curtains have been installed for the time being that can be opened for chapel services or when used by specific Christian faith groups or individuals for Bible study or prayer and drawn closed when the chapel is not used for these purposes. We are also checking with other VA medical centers to see how they comply with this policy while still honoring our heritage.

In a recent letter to the editor, it was also mentioned that our chaplains may not read scripture or talk about Jesus. Chaplain Mueller, who was quoted, told me that was not accurate. There are no prohibitions on chaplains reading scripture, talking about Jesus or praying in his name at chapel services, during ceremonies or when providing spiritual care to patient and families that identify with the Christian faith.

We do understand and appreciate the concern by people in our community regarding religious freedom, and we hope this provides some clarification.

"The hidden agenda here is not to offend Muslims."

"Why is my religious freedom being stifled? You don't agree with the Christian icons, don't go in the chapel."

"Why should my symbols and icons be covered up because of loudmouthed minorities? Get your own space if my God 'offends' you."

I think it's worth stating that "loudmouthed minorities" did not bring the curtain to the chapel. The curtain was installed after the National Chaplain Center alerted VA administration that it was not in compliance with a religious neutrality policy, most recently revised in July 2008.

It's also worth (re)stating that the curtains are only used when the chapel is not in use by Christians. Some versions of the story downplay this, but it's true. Any Christian who desires to use the chapel, as an individual or with a group, will be allowed to do so — with the curtain pulled back and with icons in full view.

It's true that a majority of people in the area identify as Christian, but the VA isn't a local entity. Policies like this are not meant to attack one religion, but to prevent the exclusion of any faith.

This is not part of a vast Marxist conspiracy to "take God out" of American culture. If that was really the goal, the chapel probably wouldn't be there at all.

Besides, the policy in question dates to the last months of the Bush administration. I'm doubtful that W. would have allowed a Marxist agenda to infiltrate the VA.

I understand that people are upset about this situation, but it doesn't seem to me like an assault on religious freedom. I don't see how anyone is being prevented from practicing their faith in this chapel.

And who's really "offended" here? The loudmouthed minorities, or the people that get upset at the idea of recognizing religious beliefs other than their own?