What special problems are U.S. military chaplains facing in Iraq?
Archbishop O’Brien: They are facing the same problems chaplains face during any time of war — strange terrain, a different culture, immanent threat of danger, separation from home and an atmosphere of high stress. The particular problem for chaplains especially is that there are relatively few in relationship to the number of Catholics they serve in their own units and in other units. Each military unit has a chaplain — some are priests but far and away, most are Protestant ministers. A priest is responsible for the pastoral care of all of the soldiers in his unit — Catholic and non-Catholic. Plus, a priest must minister to Catholic soldiers in other units that are assigned to Protestant ministers. Q: How does working in a Muslim country affect the ministry? Do chaplains have to be more discreet? Are there special concerns about interreligious sensibilities? Archbishop O’Brien: I was over in Iraq a few weeks ago and found that the military commanders rely on chaplains to interface w
