Religion allowed in VA care, court rules

Religion allowed in VA care, court rules

By Ryan J. Foley
The Associated Press


MADISON — Taxpayers cannot sue the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for incorporating religion into its health care programs for the nation’s veterans, an appeals court has ruled.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation and three of its members have no legal standing to bring the case.

The group was trying to end the agency’s practice of asking patients about their religion in “spiritual assessments,” its use of chaplains to treat patients, and drug and alcohol treatment programs that incorporate religion. It claimed those practices violated the separation of church and state.

But the court ruled that federal taxpayers cannot challenge those expenditures. The court cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision from last year in which the same group was not allowed to sue over President Bush’s faith-based initiative.

In that case, the court ruled 5-4 the executive branch cannot be sued by taxpayers for expenses that allegedly promote religion. Cases can only be brought when the questionable expenditures are explicitly authorized in a Congressional spending bill, the court ruled.

Congress never authorized spending on the chaplain services, pastoral care and other programs challenged, the 7th Circuit ruled.
go here for more
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAUG08/nf080708-3.htm

Religious freedom group targets VA hospitals

Religious freedom group targets VA hospitals




Associated Press - April 15, 2008 10:45 AM ET

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A Madison foundation continues its crusade against religion in the government-operated Veterans Administration hospitals.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation pressed the Madison VA hospital to remove a sales display by Christian book store.

The hospital then took down the displays in the lobby and auditorium put up by the Inspired By Him Christian book store.

The foundation is also waiting for a federal appeals court ruling on the VA's broader policy of offering religious counseling to patients at VA hospitals nationwide.


Information from: Gil Halsted, Wisconsin Public Radio
http://wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=8168297

Now you knew I'd have something to say on this.

Are they against all religions or only one? Is it a matter of having just Christian Chaplains who are acting as evangelists for their own branch or is it because they are crossing the line between "spiritual council" and "religious" council?

It does matter. As a Chaplain, I am required to serve all people, no matter what their faith is or if they have no faith at all. There is a connection between mind, body and spirit and it all plays into taking care of the needs of the veterans. We are not supposed to be allowed to "favor" Christianity over any other religion if the people coming to us happen to be of another faith. We are representatives of God and serve in that capacity. Or at least that is what we are supposed to be.

Naturally as a Christian, I'm apt to know more about Christian doctrine than I do about Buddhism for an example. Yet I am not supposed to try to convert anyone especially when they are in crisis. At the moment of need, there isn't time to even begin to do that.

I can understand the need to treat all faiths equally. That was the intent of the foundation of this nation. If they do not treat all faiths the same, there is nothing to stop someone from treating my faith as a lesser faith. I happen to be Greek Orthodox, which in this country, it is not one of the major branches of Christianity. What is to stop anyone in power from treating a Baptist with more clout than me? There needs to be protections under the law and they have to be defended, so yes, I do respect the rights of people to seek the removal of governmental connects stepping over the line. There must be equality in all government facilities because they are to serve the people and not just one faith over another.
My problem with this report is that it does not get specific. I'd really like to know what was being done and what was behind it. Did they allow other faiths to have the same kind of attention? Is it a matter of they allowed it but the other faiths did not want to use the same placement? Does this group want all religious/spiritual help removed from VA facilities? Or do they just want the equality of them?

I can understand removing symbols of one Christian sect over all others but I cannot understand the removal of all faiths from everywhere. Taking statues out of a VA chapel is understandable because some Christians find them offensive according to their own beliefs and the fact they see the statues as "graven images" while the Catholic faith favors them. Orthodox Christians do not allow them. They favor icons and for a long time, even they were not allowed in the churches. I would really like to know what they want for a solution other than the removal of all spiritual assistance.