Interviews
Prayers
A prayer for Corporal Rory Hamill:
He was Among Us
Almighty God and Father:
He was among us
Then he went ahead
And others were spared
The losses he suffered,
the losses he shared
with others who suffered.
Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth:
How many are lost in war!
How many are lost, embattled, afterwards!
How many are lost in the aftermath of pain:
In the life-long plague of remembering -
The hidden, memorised shock,
Closing, like shrapnel, on the heart!
Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ:
In what dark place are the tears,
In what dark place are the wounds,
In what dark place, darker without you,
Are the questions, questioning you:
Why have I lived?
Why have they died?
Lord God, Son of God:
We were walking together
And he re-joined us
– thank you!
We were walking together
And his stumbling he shared with us
– thank you!
We were walking together
And he helped us
– thank you!
We were walking together
And we lost him
– forgive us!
Lord, True Man and True God:
How many are among
the bushes – sit with us!
How many are alone
on the street – stand with us!
How many are edged
out of life’s reach – speak to us!
Lord, through your Death and Resurrection:
May your darkness en-brighten us!
May your sufferings soothe us!
May your words enlighten us!
Oh Holy Spirit:
Come in the flight upwards
to take the weight downing us!
Come in life’s going,
to bring life to the brim in us!
Come in the upset of leaving
to take love to the left!
Oh Holy Spirit of Love:
Help us to find the openings
for those locked in the past!
Help us to heal the hidden,
Un-yielding wounds!
Help us to end the warring
within each of us
that breaks out between us!
Oh Holy Spirit, Soul of the Church:
Sing in us! Sigh in us! Save us!
Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God,
St. Joseph and the whole
host of welcoming Saints:
We have a common prayer:
for all of us, here and there, to share,
for the people passing – and past;
for the past that plagues the present:
We pray for peace and an end
to the life-long price of war.
by Francis Etheredge Profiles in Catholicism
Economic Benefits
Articles /Commentaries
5 Marines confirmed dead after their helicopter crashed in Southern California by Haley Britzky, Andy Rose and Jason Hanna CNN
2 Navy SEALs missing off Somalia coast were on a nighttime boarding mission: US officials by Luis Martinez ABC News/Yahoo
New law designates special counsels to prosecute sex crimes in US military by Olivia Empson The Guardian
When Veterans in Crisis Can’t Get Help by Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi ProPublica
The Army Increasingly Allows Soldiers Charged With Violent Crimes to Leave the Military Rather Than Face Trial by Vianna Davila, Lexi Churchill and Ren Larson Military Times/Texas Tribune/ ProPublica
9 soldiers killed after 2 Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky during training mission, Army says by Alisha Ebrahimji, Tina Burnside, Chloe Liu and Haley Britzky CNN
Black Vietnam Vet Finally Awarded Medal of Honor for Bravery by The Associated Press/Patricia The Skanner
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US Navy veteran released from Russian custody by Natasha Bertrand CNN
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Military Archbishop applauds expanded health care for veterans exposed to toxins by John Lavenburg Crux
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Retired 3-star general suspended from Army contract after tweet that appeared to mock Jill Biden by Tom Vanden Brook USA TODAY
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Marine Officer Relieved of Duty for Criticizing Leaders Over Afghanistan by Rudy Takala Microsoft News
The U.S. military has a shortage of Catholic chaplains, which affects service members and civilians alike by Maggie Phillips The Associated Press
Deep-rooted racism, discrimination permeate US military by Kat Stafford, James Laporta, Aaron Morrison, and Helen Wieffering The Associated Press
US soldier arrested in plot to blow up NYC 9/11 Memorial by Larry Neumeister The Associated Press
Remembering Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD by Dr. Eugene Fisher Profiles in Catholicism
Navy’s Cutting of Contract Priests: Part of ‘Longer Arc’? Though ultimately overturned, the decision raises ongoing questions about religious liberty in the armed forces. by Father Lt. Mark Bristol National Catholic Register
Multiple Sources Corroborate Story that Trump Called America’s Fallen Soldiers “Losers” and “Suckers.” by Rebecca Hamilton Patheos
Rev. Al Sharpton, families of police shooting victims join march on Washington by Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service
Victory: US Navy reverses unlawful order banning troops from indoor Mass, religious services by Doug MainwaringLifeSiteNews
The Ultimate 2020 Military Discount Guide by Allconnect.com
What we owe U.S. veterans who fought in Afghanistan by Matt Malone, S.J. America
How Afghanistan changed this Catholic vet’s relationship to violence—and God by Jesuitical America
War crime pardons dishonor the Christian roots of the modern military by Matthew Shadle America
I’m a Veteran Without PTSD. I Used to Think Something Was Wrong With Me. by Melissa Thomas The New York Times
NATO Military Alliance Incompatible with Gospel Nonviolence· by Tony Magliano Pax Christi International
Honoring those Who Served by Father Joseph Chamblain, O.S.M.
PTSD: The Sacred Wound by Edward Tick, Ph.D. Catholic Heath Association May-June 2013
Videos
Making Sense Of Veteran Suicide
We are the Catholic War Veterans of the USA, Inc
Prayers God of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride. Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears, that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters. Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace. We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
God of all goodness, Look with love on those who wait for the safe return of their loved ones who serve in the armed forces of their country. In faith and hope, we turn to you for comfort. Grant that we may trust in your mercy and send an angel to sustain us as we await their safe return. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
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