The Four Chaplains and Religious Tolerance
August 12th, 2010 by MOTHAX
"Grant us now your abiding presence and may we remain faithful to the spirit of our Four Chaplains who, having learned to live and serve together, in death were not divided."
Got a somewhat timely news story sent to me today, and since the Four Chaplains are about my favorite historical topic, it gives me a chance to post about it. Set against a backdrop of continuing controversy over the so called "Ground Zero Mosque" and the recent announcement that Greg Gutfeld would like to open a Muslim Gay Bar across the street from it (potentially to be called "Outfidels" or "Al Gayda") it is wonderful to read or watch a tale about a time when religious distinctions were overcome in such a brave manner.
Let's start with the article which gives rise to this post, from the Long Beach Post-Telegram:
A group of veterans, many from the World War II era, will pay their respects to the Four Immortal Chaplains in the Memorial Interfaith Sanctuary aboard the Queen Mary Saturday. During World War II, the four chaplains - a Methodist, a Jewish rabbi, a Catholic priest and a Reformed Church in America minister - saved lives aboard the USS Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943, by giving their own. The ship was near Greenland when it was struck by a torpedo launched by the U-223, a German submarine. Amid the confusion and fear, the chaplains not only continued to comfort the men, they each gave up their life jackets to others. The chaplains went down with the ship. More than 600 of the more than 900 aboard died, the chaplains - Methodist Rev. George Fox, Reformed Church Rev. Clark Poling, Rabbi Alex Goode and Catholic priest John Washington - were instrumental in many others being saved.Makes it sound a little dry, so (as always) I give you a video describing the Dorchester's date with destruction. For a pretty good run down of the events that day, you should go to the Four Chaplains website. Great resource to find out more about each of the Chaplains. Even before coming to work at the Legion, George Fox was the one that interested me the most, since he was from Vermont, where my maternal line comes from. When I came here though it made me very pleased to learn that Reverend Fox had been the Department Chaplain and Historian for Vermont's American Legion. If you have never been to a Four Chaplains Memorial service, it is rather humbling. I was a guest at an excellent one that the Department of Washington ran after their mid-winter conference last year. It seems appropriate to end this post with the collection prayer that is suggested by the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation.
God of our Fathers and our God, we thank You for the unity that the U.S.A.T. DORCHESTER Chaplains, these four men of God, demonstrated in life and in death. Unity that is not uniformity. Unity that strengthens within each of us every worthy loyalty of faith and practice. Unity that transcends all our differences and makes us one in loyalty to our country and our fellowmen, and to you our God. Grant us now your abiding presence and may we remain faithful to the spirit of our Four Chaplains who, having learned to live and serve together, in death were not divided.
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Comments
Pat Lowery (not verified)
August 14, 2010 - 3:36am
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I could not have said it any
I could not have said it any better. I feel Jose Ruben Calva has spoken the very same words I feel. I feel my generation, with the lack of checks and balances--in our materialistic style of living, our crooked elected officials, and our non parental homelife is setting the future generations up for disaster. "Political correctness" is our biggest weakness and we should get back the values written by the Founding Fathers and practice Truth.
Kirk (not verified)
August 16, 2010 - 3:04pm
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The Four Chaplains did set
The Four Chaplains did set the example for us to follow on this earth but as you notice they did this together. My questions about radical Muslims and Islam as with any religion is it the exception or the rule? I have been to Iraq and Afghanistan and I have interacted with the populace there and what I can tell you is I do not have the answer. It seems that most people in these countries just want to live their lives. I think it is the 20%. In every religion you will always have some radicals that will shape whatever their religion is to justify their cause eg-members of the Westboro Baptist Church traveling around the country to protest at military funerals. As a Soldier myself I think that is a disgrace and they are pure evil! What I realize is there are evil people on this earth and they need to be dealt with harshly. It is not all about turning the other cheek. The Archangel Saint Michael fought with the Devil and cast him out of Heaven in to the bowels of Hell and that fight still goes on today. There will always be a battle between good and evil and we may lose some battles but we will not lose the war. The Four Chaplains did set the right example of how we should care about each other. They were true leaders and we need to follow and believe in their lesson. It is impossible to reason with the unreasonable and any radical no matter their religion or cause if they try to bring death or suffering to others ther should be no turning of any cheek.
Rafael D. Velez (not verified)
August 26, 2010 - 7:43pm
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It is interesting to hear the
It is interesting to hear the spirited opinions of fellow Americans about this issue. Mostly in opposition to the use of a building by other fellow Americans to practice the rituals of their faith because of its proximity to Ground Zero in New York. No consideration to the facts of life in New York's Financial District. Were all the dead people in the towers complex an American Christian. I think the views expressed are a little narrow. I believe the whole place should be made a InterDenominational Memorial Chapel for people of all faiths and persuations to come to reflect on the meaning of life, freedom, morality and faith. As to the use of any private space at any proximity or distance from the GZ site, but specifically in the Financial District, the people that live and work there need all the spiritual guidance that they can get from any faith or religion with the possible exception to the cult of the migthy dollar at the Vatican of capitalism. There have been a lot more american casualties from their misdeeds than from any terrorist attack domestic or not.
Cliff Franks (not verified)
August 12, 2010 - 10:11pm
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Religious tolerance is fine -
Religious tolerance is fine - it is zero tolerance for terrorists and terrorism that I support. If this new "cultural center" becomes "exclusive" and troublesome I'm sure there will be those willing to make piece with it.
Rev. Steven W. ... (not verified)
August 12, 2010 - 11:35pm
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I believe in religious
I believe in religious tolerance too. I also believe we should turn the other cheek. Lets see, USS Cole, The Marine Barracks, 9/11, you see where I am going. It is not theraputic to have the stuffings beat out of you and then be overjoyed at being taunted about it. If we do not say STOP and mean it we of the Jewish & Christian heritage will soon be shuffled away and be enslaved. There goes OUR culture.
Jose Ruben Calva (not verified)
August 13, 2010 - 1:51am
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Our most basic values embrace
Our most basic values embrace personal responsibility and freedom of religion. Employing these values requires us to be vigilant and to discern evil from good. Casualness or indifference will result in losing our freedoms. No matter how much we want peace throughout the world, nor how much we wish to extoll to the world our freedom of religion, we will bring danger to ourselves and our children if we ignore reality. We are generations away from having peace with Islamic believers! Until Islamic leaders and believers profess the values of our constitution and accept living in peace with Christians and Jews, why should there be any Islamic Center or Mosque in this country? A Neutral Place (away from controversial sites) for open discussion and views--where Christians, Jews, Women, and Muslims are welcomed--YES!
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