…or if you’re sitting in a pew, but this news — that Virginia state police chaplains may once again use religion-specific words like “Jesus” when they pray — may come as either a shock/outrage, or a no-duh.
I leave your reaction to you. And thanks, Bro. Tod, for the link.
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They have already blurred the line between church and state by having chaplains on the payroll in the first place, haven’t they? Why wouldn’t a police officer go to his or her own minister for advice or to be consoled?
I know just enough to be dangerous about chaplains. And if any one knows more, feel free to chime in (it wouldn’t take much to know more than I do, but I briefly considered it as a career, so I like to pretend I know what I’m talking about): The thinking is that a police chaplain goes through much of the same training and has much of the same job expectations as does a police officer, and a police officer might feel more comfortable going to someone who Gets It. Same with military chaplains, or fire department chaplains.
“… a police chaplain goes through much of the same training and has much of the same job expectations as does a police officer, and a police officer might feel more comfortable going to someone who Gets It.”
The idea of having an advisor or counsellor going through the same training as officers (or soldiers) makes absolute sense to me. But is it necessary that these advisors or counsellors or, heck, therapists be RELIGIOUS advisors? If your troubled officer is an agnostic, wouldn’t s/he be reluctant to seek comfort / advice from an overtly religious person whose counsel might not be what the officer needs?
That might be the case. Good question, though by virtue of being a chaplain, I assume there is some faith/religion/belief system to which that chaplain adheres. Could be massively wrong on that, though.
Seems logical. Of course I’m realizing I’ve forgotten something here: the organization probably does have people on staff or on call who can offer psychological help when needed, and the spiritual may be a whole ‘nother thing. And perhaps it’s less embarrassing to seek that kind of help than psychololgical help? But if so, is it the responsibility of the organization to officially offer that help, even if the chaplains are volunteers?
I don’t know the answer to that. I think historically at least police/fire departments have offered chaplaincy services. Dunno how much they offered in the way of psychological help, though.
….ACTUALLY, these chaplains are volunteers that also happen to be troopers.
There you go. Do they get any kind of special training? I am familiar with the chaplaincy program at Hartford Seminary, but dunno about every chaplain, obviously.
That I don’t know off the bat.
HOWEVER, as a BSA-trained chaplain, I can state unequivocally that the BSA guidelines are to act in a way which respects the faith traditions of ALL members of the audience. Which means to not invoke the name of Jesus when your audience may consist of Jews, Muslims, Hindi, etc,
Atheists are of course excluded since BSA membership does require recognition of a higher power than man or woman.
There’s been some court cases on that, has there not? Or am I dreaming that?
There have been lawsuits, but there is a thing in the Constitution about “freedom of association” which allows private organizations to exist and have whatever rules of memberships they desire.
Lots of people don’t like the fact that BSA has its own criteria so they try to force the organization to change, either by lawsuits or denial of use of public facilities. Turns out that under most state laws, if scouting groups are denied the use of say, schools, lots of other groups such as seed churches end up having to be denied as well. Which then starts a bunch of other discussions and arguments.
It was interesting to involved with it in the ’90s, when there seemed to be more discussion about sexual orientation among the leadership and the rank and file members. My son chose to stay and at his Eagle Court talked about that.
“BSA membership does require recognition of a higher power than man or woman.”
Yet another thing I didn’t know. Requires? Really? So if someone joins who might not be a “recognizer,” they’re doing so under false pretenses?
Yep. And generally not a problem, unless they act out in some manner, until they get to their Eagle Board of Review at which point it may become a yes or no question on which their scouting career hangs in the balance.
As chaplain, I don’t expect 11-18 year old boys to be particularly articulate or fully informed in their faith. I try to help them find a path that that is right for them.
But it all starts with the Scouting oath:
On my honor I will do my best
to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
to help other people at all times;
to keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Duty to God is first and foremost.
and the 12th point of the Scout law is “reverent”.
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
So, yes, if a young man recites these without believing in a higher power, he is doing so and joining Scouts under false pretenses.
Atheists need not apply?
Correct. Despite efforts from the outside to force that change.
If folks have an issue with that, I strongly suggest they create their own organization.
This never came up once in my son’s path to Eagle, and this was an excellent troop. They also said they would never question someone’s sexual orientation at a time when this was a hot-button issue within Scouting, too.
I’ve sat on seven Eagle Boards…it has come up in at least two from the representative from Council.
Troops, like churches, often behave differently than the creed. But you are in Godless CT, so it is to be expected…..
There you go. We embrace that, here in the godless northeast.