Are service people getting fed?

[hedgehog]

Some background - a number of Catholic chaplains are under contract with the Armed Forces to come in and say Mass. As Defense Department employees, they've been furloughed. The Right is getting all hissy about how Obama is keeping service members from going to Mass.

I know at least some service messes are run by outside contractors. I assume those contractors haven't been furloughed, but does anyone know for sure? I know the commissaries are closed.

I think it rather odd that a Catholic priest with an assignment elsewhere is charging money to come in and say Mass - sounds like simony to me! I'm assuming the assignment provides sufficient income to live on.

I can see the Defense Department classifying all outside chaplains of any denomination as not vital to operations. At the same time, why get people riled up over a side issue?

[sammytko]

1. commissaries are open

http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20131007/BENEFITS07/310070015/Commissaries-reopen-shelves-will-take-time-fill

They can go to church off base. There are not enough priests to go around as it is. At my last assignment, the Catholic priest slot (Air Force Captain) was discontinued. We had to go to the local church - just down the road.

I don't go to church now, but while at this last assignment, we always had visiting priests from Africa. I guess that is the biggest recruiting area now for the church. My current town's catholic church has two priest from Africa. Nice guys too.

[hedgehog]

2. I wasn't aware the commisaries re-opened - good to know!

Thank you for your service!