Well, now that chaplains at Fort Campbell have banned Jewish Lay leaders from holding services on campus.
Yet another case of the Talibanization of the US military: (It’s even worse in the US Air Force)
Chaplains in the 101st Airborne Division have fired the longstanding Jewish lay leaders at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, allegedly without providing any reason, effectively ending Friday night Shabbat services for Jewish soldiers and their families.
The two ranking chaplains also refused to support the Jews’ attempts to celebrate Passover on March 30, the first night of the eight-day long religious celebration, allegedly because it conflicted with Christians’ Good Friday observances and would save money during the installation’s four-day holiday.
Jeanette Mize, her husband, Curt, and son, Lawrence, served as lay leaders for Jewish worship on the installation for nearly two decades. On Feb. 28, the three were allegedly fired without cause under the direction of the division chaplain, Col. John Murphy, and his deputy chaplain, Lt. Col. Sean Wead.
“There was no explanation why I was fired,” Jeanette Mize told Army Times.
She added that her family has “faithfully provided weekly Shabbat and yearly religious worship events since 1999,” and they have worshiped at Fort Campbell since 1984.
Mize contacted Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who lodged a complaint with base officials. Weinstein subsequently spoke by phone with Col. Brett Sylvia, the division’s chief of staff, who is currently deployed with the headquarters to Afghanistan.
………
But Weinstein said he was informed on Friday morning that the inquiry had become a 15-6 investigation. That type of inquiry hints at the severity of the allegations and how seriously the Army is taking them, according to Weinstein.
“About 10 percent of the cases I file with the Army become 15-6 investigations,” he said.
Mize and her family have never been paid for the services they provide for the roughly 80 members of the Jewish community on Fort Campbell.
The nearest synagogue is about 50 miles away, and it appears that the chaplains were attempting to force Mize out for some time.
The term for the chaplain’s behavior is, “Contrary to good order and discipline.”