Archdiocese Abandoned Army Chaplain Because of PTSD?

Repenning did right by church, but still got ousted
Poughkeepsie Journal
Dennis Maloney
July 16, 2016

I believe they have adopted an anti-military/veteran bias. It is the only plausible rationale for why they want to punish Father Robert. He served as an Army chaplain, probably against their wishes. He must be punished! Cardinals Spellman, Cooke and O’Connor must be rolling over in their graves! Dennis Maloney

The Poughkeepsie Journal recently reported that the Archdiocese of New York was removing Father Robert Repenning, a pastor at Holy Trinity Church in Poughkeepsie, because of concern about his post-traumatic stress disorder. The facts do not bear this out.

Father Robert is a combat veteran Army Chaplain having served two deployments in Tikrit, Iraq. Captain Repenning is the most decorated chaplain in the archdiocese. His service to the country gave him what many combat veterans acquire, a mild case of PTSD.

Father never hid his PTSD. He sought treatment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs upon leaving active service years ago. He has followed the treatment protocol religiously. In fact, he has exceeded his protocol by adopting a service dog.

When archdiocese officials informed Father Robert of their decision, they told him that he must go to Saint John Vianney Hospital in Philadelphia, surrender his guardianship to them and be incommunicado. However, if he had a better plan, they might accept it.

The concerned parishioners of Holy Trinity presented such a program, based on the best practices for treating PTSD. Staying at Holy Trinity was part of the plan. It was immediately rejected. He must go!

When we presented the facts that Saint John Vianney does not treat PTSD, that the archdiocesan plan was detrimental to his treatment, that his successes at Holy Trinity (nearly doubling the number of parishioners, doubling school enrollment, increased revenue, building a school playground, updating the entire physical plant, publishing five books) showed that his PTSD did not negatively impact his effectiveness, it didn’t matter! He must go.
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Army Chaplain--Priest With PTSD Tossed by Church