Should the Government pay for your Church?

Question

Why do we pay for military Chaplains?

Why do we pay for military Chaplains? What happened to separation of church and state? Atheists don't need them. Why should we pay for them?

How ridiculous would it seem to you if the Government payed for your local church?

I am a soldier in Iraq. This is my second deployment. My first was as an Airborne Ranger Medic.

The Katcoff v Marsh ruling on the matter doesn't acknowledge the fact that chaplains corps could exist as a private organization paid threw taxation of those that want to use their services and or donated funds. This could possibly even improve the ability of chaplains to serve members without having to sidestep political correctness while improving their pay.

Answer 1

Because military chaplains still serve the country and can kill a man with a shot from the gun they keep in their bible

Anyway, the military is not paying for the church. They are paying a soldier who happens to have a stronger faith than others.

EDIT:  And if you don't like the answers, then do not ask the question on YA. If you are a soldier, act like one.

Answer 2

The government funds the soldier, who hapens to be a chaplain. If you are an athiest that doesn't want a chaplain, suck it up. SOME OF US have beliefs. We don't openly yell at you because you don't believe in God. Yet you hate us because we do?  

Answer 3

then don't fight for the atheists

Answer 4

don't you liberal have better things to do.

Stop the liberal tirade of hate and lies.

Answer 5

I don't think it's a question of wether we should pay or not.  The Church already has many tax breaks from the government and many times profits from the donations of others, to keep the church going.

If government pays for the military Chaplains it must be because they have no other funding, to help them keep going.

Answer 6

As the saying goes "There are no atheists in fox-holes"

Chaplains are there to boost moral and give hope to soldiers who have lost hope. That is a mission that is worth paying for regardless of whether or not it has anything to do with religion.  

Answer 7

The bottom line is we want our chaplains to have the same training as regular soldiers.  Just because a Captain is a Chaplain doesn't mean he didn't go through Office School just like your company commmander.  I've never met a Chaplan that sidestepped political correctness to improve their pay.  The Chaplains I have dealt with have done nothing but provide suport and a person to talk to that keeps the conversation confidential, and doesn't want to prescribe medication.

In times of great strife, many people reach out for reassurance of their faith to a pastor or bishop.  Why would we ever privatize it as a pay ofr services organization?  The chaplains are there for those who need them.  If you don't, don't use them.  But realize these chaplains put on the same uniform you do and serve the country for the same reason you do- they just have a different MOS.

Answer 8

Chaplains should be paid even if the atheists don't need them. Should we not pay the doctors because healthy people don't need them?

Atheists are human as are the rest of us.

The separation of church and state is NOT law but just a suggestion from Thomas Jefferson, who also said that Christianity is the greatest burden to ever befall the human race.

Answer 9

Well since the U.S. military is protected by the U.S. constitution and there is freedom of religion, soldiers should be able to have someone of their faith with them to be there for support,especially if they are in a country where they have no access to a place of worship of their religion.

Answer 10

1st of all: to the person who told him to "act like a soldier," what is wrong with you? He is one. He is asking an intelligent question. He is thinking. A soldier's weapon, what keeps him alive and kills the other guy, is his:

mind.

He is acting like a soldier. Chill out.

I do not believe in god and only started to like my bible when I hollowed it out to put a gun in it (Now I believe what's in it...).

However, I still support the funding of military chaplains for the following reasons:

a.) Those men are fighting for my freedom and if some of them would like a priest there, then I will gladly pay for it. The issue becomes more complex when there are lots of different faiths or men with no faith at all. Then you have to to what you can for the greatest number of them within reasonable limits. Perhaps we should have rabbis for the Jews who serve as well. I wouldn't be against it. For those of us who don't believe in god, perhaps psychological counselors would be good?

b.) The presence of such people directly influences moral in an overall positive direction. The moral of an army can directly effect the combat efficacy of a fighting unit. From a cost/benefit analysis, I believe the benefits outweigh the costs.

However, even with the above points, there could be more effective ways to accomplish the same positive aspects without favoring one religion over another. The problem is "which religion?"

Christian:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Lutheran, Baptist, Morman etc (there are over 300 divisions in that religion)

Jewish:

Traditional, Reformed etc

etc.

Maybe it would be better just to have non denominational people in support roles? Who can say?

Answer 11

This is a valid question, While I see your concern, it make sense for soldiers to have some one to turn to for religious needs , maybe the Gov. should make sure that every religious group is represented, not just Christians. It is also something that has crossed my mind.      

Answer 12

I think Chaplains serve an important role in the military, especially since there are no houses of worship on the battlefield.