A Texas lawmaker is demanding and investigation into what he calls anti-religious” and “anti-Christian” decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs to allegedly prohibit veterans from mentioning “God” or “Jesus” during funerals at the Houston National Cemetery.
“The federal government should not have a policy of being anti-religious especially at a religious ceremony – a burial of one of our veterans,” said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas. “Congress has got to get involved and change the anti-Christian, anti-religion philosophy in the Veterans Administration.” Fox News
Poe was responding to accusations that were filed in federal court, that states that the Houston National Cemetery banned veterans from saying the words “God” and “Jesus” during funeral services. Cemetary Director Arleen Ocasio is under fire from representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the National Memorial Ladies, and they have accused her of:
Ordering an American Legion post to remove prayers from its burial rituals
Telling the National Memorial Ladies they could no longer include “God bless” in its condolence cards or use religious messages when talking with veterans’ families
Shutting down the cemetery chapel and turning it into a meeting room
The cemetary couldn’t comment because of the pending litigation. The Department of Veteran Affairs released a statement saying, it respects every veteran and their family’s right to burial service that honors their faith tradition.
“Prayer is a very personal and sacred moment,” wrote Keith Ethridge, director of the VA National Chaplain Center. “To honor veterans as they are laid to rest, VA chaplains always pray and preside over religious services according to the veteran’s faith tradition and the family’s wishes.” Fox News
Meanwhile Poe wants Ocasio fired.
“The director of the Houston National Cemetery allegedly has engaged in aggressive hostile censorship of religion at the second largest cemetery for veterans in the United States,” Poe said. “This authoritarian behavior and religious discrimination should not be tolerated.”
It was just last May that US District Judge Lynn Hughes had to intervene after a Christian pastor was told to stop using the words “Jesus Christ” in his invocation. The judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the Dept. of Veterans Affairs from censoring Pastor Scott Rainey’s prayer.
We were told we could no longer say ‘God bless you’ and ‘God bless your family,’” Marilyn Koepp told MyFoxHouston.com. “How did I feel? I probably shouldn’t say how I felt because it was absolutely appalling that this woman would come aboard and tell us we cannot say ‘God bless you.’” Fox News
Poe said we aren’t going to allow that. He said they were going to find out what their policy is and change it.And they are also going to make sure it complies with the Constitution.
