PLAY
By Todd Starnes
A Texas lawmaker is calling for a Congressional investigation of the Houston National Cemetery after he went undercover and determined that cemetery officials are still preventing Christian prayers at the funerals of military veterans.
“The Obama administration continues to try to prevent the word ‘God’ from being used at the funerals of our heroes,” said. Rep. John Culberson (R-TX). “It’s unacceptable and I’m going to put a stop to it as fast as humanly possible.”
Culberson told Fox News Radio he attended a burial service at the cemetery under cover on July 8 where he said volunteer members of the honor guard from the Veterans of Foreign Wars were prohibited from using any references to God.
“The Obama administration had told the nation and me they were not interfering with the prayer said over the graves of veterans,” he said. “And I went undercover to personally verify that claim.”
V.A. officials have strongly denied they’ve banned any religious speech – and have offered support for Arleen Ocasio, the cemetery’s director.
“The idea that invoking the name of God or Jesus is banned at VA national cemeteries is blatantly false,” said VA Press Secretary Josh Taylor in a written statement to Fox News Radio. “The truth is, VA’s policy protects Veterans’ families’ rights to pray however they choose at our national cemeteries.”
Taylor declined to comment on the pending lawsuit or other ongoing legal proceedings, but did say, “No one should make judgments before all the facts are known.”
Culberson said the commander of the honor guard was told to by cemetery officials to approach a grieving widow to reconfirm that she wanted the word God mentioned at her husband’s graveside service.
“He quite correctly said as a Texan and a man of honor and integrity, ‘I’m not bothering that poor woman at this most terrible time of her life. We’re going to do the ritual,’” Culberson said. “Right in front of me, the V.A. directly and deliberately attempted to prevent the VFW from doing their magnificent, spiritual ritual over the grave of this fallen hero.
The cemetery is already the focus of a lawsuit filed on behalf of the VFW, an American Legion post and Houston’s National Memorial Ladies. They claim the V.A. banned members of the organizations from using the words “God” or “Jesus” at burial services. They also allege they were banned from reciting prayers or using religious language during services unless families approved the text in advance.
Culberson, who oversees the sub-committee responsible for funding the cemetery, said that he wants the cemetery director fired – and he’s willing to do whatever possible to make sure that happens.
“The cemetery director has to leave,” he said. “I will zero out her salary. If she attempts to work for the VA anywhere in the state of Texas her salary will be zero.”
“It makes my skin crawl that liberals are attempting to drive prayer out of a funeral ceremony for our heroes,” Culberson said. “We’re going to fix this so that no Obama liberal bureaucrat will interfere with the funeral of a hero.”
But Taylor said the rules set in place at the cemetery are meant to protect the grieving families.
“Put simply, VA policy puts the wishes of the veteran’s family above all else on the day it matters most – the day they pay their final respects to their loved ones,” Taylor said. Out of respect for the families, VA’s policy exists to prevent anyone from disrespecting or interfering with a veteran’s private committal service.”
Controversy first surfaced nationally at the cemetery during a Memorial Day event when a Houston pastor was ordered by the V.A. to remove the name of Jesus from his prayer.
Culberson said he hopes to hold hearings on the cemetery in the fall.
“It makes my skin crawl that liberals are attempting to drive prayer out of a funeral ceremony for our heroes,” he said. “They will bury 10 to 20 American heroes today and the Obama administration is preventing prayers from being said over their gravesites – today.”
I wonder who Obama got permission from to have a muslim prayer said before feeding Bin Laden to the fishes.
A line in the sand must be drawn. I hope Rep. John Culberson is successful in his attempt to zero her salary. This cannot stand anywhere in America.
Did you actually read the article, and not just the headline? Families get to define the amount of religious content, or lack thereof, in the commital ceremony. Not a bureaucract.
For Culberson to spread a lie that is so easily refuted speaks to his poor ability to understand facts and situations. I worry about his presence in the House. What if he hears "Bill 1234 will do X, Y, and Z" and then holds a hyperventilating press conference against Bill 1234 because it will "forbid X, Y, and Z"? If the guy can't comprehend that God is not banned at ceremonies, he has a real problem with English comprehension.
Go SAM Go
It is clear that the concern hs to be for the family of the slain hero. Culbertson needs to get out of their lives. He's showing the greatest disrespect and stupidity for a political point. The man is a walking disaster.
GUEST– You are a walking disaster, not man/woman enough to use your name I see. Culbertson is doing the VET's and military a BIG favor to correct this situation. Wish more politicians had the nerve this man does to correct a wrong.
how would you like it fi some told you that you could not use the name of god or jesus at a funeral of your love one I for one would take that as a slap in the face They told me at both my Father(who served WW II) my husband funeral "With the grace of God & from a grateful nation we present you with this flag" what the "obama people" are doing to these people is disrespectful what Culbertson is doing is giving them back thier respect & like Oprah says this is my opinion & everyone has one but I bet you there alot more people with this opinion than your………….
No Commie government wants God in anything- Obama's regime is a commie regime…no one is surprized what this godless undercover- bi-sexual who pro-abortion to the extreme does..
As I understand the situation from the reports I've read at the Fox News web site, the entire matter is beyond my imagination. How? How, in the United States of America, is it possible that ANY government official — even the President of the United States — would dare to prohibit anyone, especially the family members of a fallen veteran, from conducting a prayer service at a funeral service for someone who's made the ultimate sacrifice? This matter is beyond arrogant and dictatorial; it's unconscionable, unacceptable, and will not stand. Common sense — especially the common sense you'd expect of U.S. government officials — presumes the bereaved family would enjoy these most-basic of personal freedoms: freedom of speech and the freedom to practice their faith. And any government official — ANY, to include the President — who'd attempt to deprive ANY American of these basic freedoms must be terminated. Furthermore, if this utter non-sense is traced to the president, as incredible as the whole situation may seem, impeachment proceedings must be initiated. This is beyond outrageous; it's unacceptable and any attempts to enforce said prohibitions must, MUST be defeated!
not a line in the sand but a hole in the ground. the same kind so many have ben placed in fighting for the right of freedom of religon tihs can not be tolarated eaven a little bit
There already is a hole. Its called ground zero!!
Here's how this is going to play out. The Head of the VA supports Arlene Orasco, the director. When Rep. Culberson pursues the matter, Arlene is going to admit that she was only following orders. The VA will then fire her and a White House statement will state that she did it all on her own.
The White House washes their hands.
I've seen this woman and boy she sure could make your skin crawl like most liberal woman she is so ugly she would have to sneak up on a glass of water to get a drink.
As a chaplain assistant in the US Army, to my professional knowledge, this is nothing more than political pondering. There is no one telling chaplains of any faith that they cannot pray over a soldier who claimed a faith, ie if a soldier was a Christian, a Christian chaplain/prayer/service is called for. If they were Buddhist, a Buddhist chaplain/prayer/service, etc. But this is all dependent on the faith of the soldier. Now, in a public setting with no discernible religious focus, not praying under the banner of any one given faith is understandable. Christians would not want to be forced to listen to a Buddhist prayer in a public setting, just as Buddhists would not want to be forced to listen to a Muslim prayer. This is why deist prayers are offered at public functions. It is a simple, general offering that can be internalized by the listener and offered up to whatever deity that they wish, as opposed to a forced indoctrination of the faith of the cleric upon the multi-faith people.
Where do you practice Tony? Are you everywhere? Are you calling the pastors in Houston Liars? Are you calling the Memorial Ladies liars? The men who fire the 21 gun salute liars? The 1st case was already heard in Federal court and the pastors were victorious. There was a 2nd hearing scheduled for 7/21.
Get your head out of the sand.
Tony T.– No disrespect Sir, but you are a little off base here. Chaplins are allowed to pray at a military funerals, but the words "GOD', "JESUS" and other reglious words are NOT allowed. Prayers have to be submitted in advanced and approved by the Director of Houston National Cemetary. I am a PGR member and have heard and seen this situation in person. Research before posting.
Take GOD out of America and watch GOD take His hedge of Protection
away from America.GOD BLESS AMERICA will be meaningless words.
Do you think God has not removed that hedge? Look at whats happened here since 1962 when prayer was removed from school.
Why Was my comment removed?
If the person being buried is not a christian, then, to me, it is disrespectful for anyone to "assume" they want a prayer said over their grave. Would you want a muslim blessing your grave in the name of Allah? Not everyone in America is christian, or wants to be. I think this article is a bit skewed. I have read up on it, and the director is simply stopping them from saying prayers at the funerals where the family requests to not have them say it. Who's really the disrespectful one here?
Renee–that is NOT correct. You must have read up on the WRONG information. When a Director tells individuals or Chaplins not to use certain words in prayers, it is her, not the family. If the family does not want prayers or certain words used at their loved ones funeral they would tell their Pastor, not coming from the HNC director. Do more research, please!!!
on all military records it state type of religious belief so before anything is said or done everything is know about the person being buried I've been to 2 my Father's & my Husband at both they have asked which payer would you like us to say so it not that everyone in America is chirstian but everyone's DD214(a military record of service) show's what religion they are if any
Time for the American people to wake up to what is going on in this country. No one wants to rock the boat and doing nothing or saying nothing is a form of acceptance. As long as no one says or does nothing it will keep happening. Obama wants toral control of all our lives and is getting it cause no one wants to rock the boat.
what seems to be said here is that the VA is trying to make sure that vets who are not christian such as muslim have an oppotunity to have a prayer siad that is according to thier personal beleifs. anyone who wants jesus or god in thier cerimony can have it but the familly of the deceased has to agree first. this isnt a block but it is alot of silly red tape==
Shame on you!!!! I will pray anywhere i want!!! and there is nothing you can do!!! shame on you………………………………………..
"..Ocasio told the VA Voluntary Services trainees that they needed to ensure that their military funeral honors were reflective of the desires of the families of the Veterans being honored, that there is no “do over” for a committal service, and that no Veteran’s family should ever leave offended or unhappy with the services provided by the Cemetery staff or the registered VA volunteers." Hardly banning God from services.
We can rattle on all we want, but only our congressional representation can do anything about it.. Contact your Represenative and Senators, and let them do your bidding. Hopefully he or she will have the "spine"
to act on the problem…
MOHAMMAD OBAMA, NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AS HE IS AN ILLEGAL CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BUILT ON THE PRINCIPALS OF OUR HOLY FATHER. HE IS AN ENEMY OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND WHAT OUR NATION STANDS FOR.
This is indeed happening at Houston National Cemetery!! I have seen it and heard it first hand. I am a PGR (Patriot Guard Rider) member that attends as many missions as I can at HNC and else where. I do not know if the director is doing it on her own or following directives from above her. Chaplins are not being told NOT to pray, but do not use the words "GOD" and "JESUS" or religious words and prayers do have to be submitted to the director for approval. "If American's do not stand up for something, then they will fall for anything". GOB BLESS THE USA
I'm tired of policies that offend Christian's
Wouldn't that be every policy?
you know that I have been told that Fox Is very conservative, but this is a joke. Does anybody really beleive this crap from a republican. How twisted will they get to make each other look like asses. Sadly I have been to two millitary funerals this year and there never anything said like that and God was used more than once. It's pretty sad that politicians have to use grieving people to try and make the rest of us not like someone else. they need to put more work into fixing the country than to try and make the other guy look bad… SAD
Keith Ethridge, the Director of VA’s National Chaplain Center:
“VA values and respects every Veteran and their family’s right to a burial service that honors their faith tradition. VA employs nearly one thousand chaplains who, every year, preside over thousands of religious burial services, representing Veterans of all faiths, in VA National Cemeteries across the country.
“Prayer is a very personal and sacred moment. 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.”
Link
5 minutes of Google time. During this search I also found all kinds of Right-wing blog, "news" sources, et al, bemoaning this outrageous ban on Christian prayer at military funerals.
IT'S A BALD-FACED LIE
This Representative ought to be disciplined for perpetrating and spreading this lie that is sure to cause dismay for those who have lost their loved one in uniform.
The matter could've been settled in a matter of minutes, with a few phone calls or a Google search.
Absolutely despicable.
Bravo! Well done!
Wow, what a joke. Just like all the other nonsense; ignorance is bliss. No matter how many times you say it Obama is not a Muslim; His Administration did not try to keep prayer for anyone out of funerals or any other function.
Why weren't all of you whipped into a frenzy when a soldier who was an atheist couldn't have his non religious insignia on his headstone? Or the Wiccan Symbol. It's not a freedom of religion issue or the Veteran that you are so up in arms about, it's "MY" god above anyone else."
This is evident in the pure hatred you show against what you refer to as the "Muslim President", also not true, but even if it were, don't Muslim soldiers deserve the same rights as any other soldier?
Oh I forgot, you don't give a rat's behind about any religion, except your own. The rest of us be damned……
Get a life, and access to news other than FOX.
Wow. Can't believe how many people not only believed Culbertson's rhetoric, but also posted a comment! Get educated, check the facts, something!
See my above response to Tony. This is the same POTUS who has intentionally omitted the phrase "endowed by our Creator" MANY times. Also had a Muslim Prayer day on the White House Lawn. Obama also appointed Elena Kagan as SCOTUS justice…the same Kagan who banned military recruiters from Harvard and instituted a program in Islamic Law at Harvard. Obama's father was a Muslim communist and mother was atheist…you REALLY believe he is Christian? Judge him by his actions. Of course they would not have issued a ruling "banning" those words silly girl…it would have been much more stealthy worded to accomplish the same end.
Barbara–Arleen Ocasio is the Houston National Cemetery Director. She is banning the words "GOD", "JESUS" and relgious words from all Chaplins prayers. Prayers do have to be submitted in advance of the funeral for approval. Now, if Arleen Ocasio is doing this on her own or by directives from above is unknown.