MRFF's Inbox
"Chaplain read into hit count" - Letter to Stars & Stripes
July 17, 2009
Did I just read this right? One of our deployed chaplains feels compelled to do a search for “gay” hits on the S&S search engine and then come to the bizarre conclusion that S&S may be illegally operating outside of the bounds of a first amendment newspaper by publishing what he sees as a pro-gay agenda without adequate counterpoint? Just for statistical comparison “Jesus” has “gay” beat on the S&S search engine by 398 to 301 (also with little or no counterpoint) but I don’t think this means the paper is pushing a pro-Jesus agenda.
The chaplain also wants S&S to perform a meta-analysis of the paper’s editorial slant? The chaplain quotes the S&S ombudsman, but further reading tells him that Stripes cannot normally print it’s own editorials, which helps to provide a safeguard from censorship or propaganda by the pentagon who subsidizes S&S. Thus no editorial slant from S&S favoring the chaplain’s anti-pro-gay-intelligent-discussion agenda will be coming anytime soon.
On the other hand, Chaplin Sugg, who is listed by Eglin’s 33d Fighter Wing as “the only chaplain at Eglin AFB, Fla, who specializes in marriage and family ministries,” (presumably not gay ones?), is entitled to his own editorial slants during his pastoral sermons. Of course his duty is to take heed of the Army Chaplaincy Strategic Plan which list their chaplains’ role as to provide compassionate religious support to the Army, many in his flock of whom may be gay. Providing appropriate needs-based pastoral care to his flock would seem to be a much better use of his deployed time than making political points about those darned liberal newspapers. Chaplain Sugg is also listed as a Deployed Presbyterian Chaplain on the Presbyterian Peace Making Program website. Not far above Chaplain Sugg’s name, is provided to him a selection of “Pastoral Care Resources” such as a section titled “Ministering to the Military in our Midst“, which consider our military families to be “MISSIONARIES to the world!” Also included web resources are active proselytization tools such as “Discipling Foxhole Converts” and a “Personal Disciple Making Mini Tool Kit for Christian Fundamentalist” which is basically a step-by-step fundamentalist recruiting guide.
Master Sgt. Jeffrey L. Thompson (retired)
RAF Alconbury, England
