Military Rescinding Outrageous Policy of No Bibles in Hospital

How in the world did a military policy that prohibits Bibles from being brought in to Walter Reed get made in the first place? Someone needs to be disciplined. The good news is the policy is being rescinded. The bad news is it actually took an outraged congressman to do it.

Via Fox News:

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said they are rescinding a policy that prohibits family members of wounded military troops from bringing Bibles or any religious reading materials to their loved ones. 

The decision to rescind the ban on Bibles came exactly one day after a Republican lawmaker denounced the policy on the House floor and called on President Obama to publicly renounce the military policy. 

“The President of the United States should address this and should excoriate the people who brought about this policy and the individual who brought it about should be dismissed from the United States Military,” Rep. Steve King (R-IA) told Fox News & Commentary.

The memo was initially signed by the hospital's Chief of Staff.

King spoke from the House floor Thursday blasting a policy memorandum from the commander of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center written by Chief of Staff C.W. Callahan. The September 14th memo covers guidelines for “wounded, ill, and injured partners in care.” 

“No religious items (i.e. Bibles, reading material, and/or artifacts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit,” the policy states. 

“That means you can’t bring in a Bible and read from it when you visit your son or your daughter, perhaps – or your wife or husband,” King said. “It means a priest that might be coming in to visit someone on their death bed couldn’t bring in the Eucharist, couldn’t offer Last Rites. This is the most outrageous affront.”

Here is the speech given by Rep. King, after which the decision was made to rescind the policy. Fast forward to the 7:00 mark if pressed for time:
 


We're seeing a slew of these extremely disturbing positions on the part of top military commanders. In May of 2009, the Army in Afghanistan was ordered to burn Bibles while in September of 2010, General David Petraeus denounced Florida pastor Terry Jones for burning the 'Holy Qur'an.' Let's also not forget that a cross at a US Army post in Afghanistan was forcibly removed.

Lastly, and perhaps most egregiously, General George Casey's comments just a few short days after the jihadist massacre at Fort Hood. His take? Nidal Malik Hasan's actions would pale in comparison to 'diversity' to becoming a 'casualty.'