Former Chaplain Takes on VA's Christian Symbolism Ban
The former chaplain of the Veterans hospital in Fayetteville resigned after Christian symbols were removed from the chapel. He is now taking his fight to restore Judeo-Christian symbols of faith to the city council.
Posted — Updated“It's nothing more than a big, bare room – an empty room with a museum-type effect,” former Chaplin Archie Barringer said in describing how the hospital chapel looks today.
Two months later, Barringer resigned as the hospital's chief chaplain.
"I would say this has gone beyond the point of neutralization to desecration,” he said.
The VA says it is is honoring a longstanding policy that requires chapels to remain religiously neutral.
Keith Ethridge, the national director of VA chaplains, said chapels must make all faiths feel welcome.
"I don't believe in discriminating against anyone, and I believe that we should certainly provide for all faith groups,” Barringer said.
Barringer supports having a separate room devoted to multiple faiths, he said.
The Department of Veterans Affairs said the Christian symbols were removed after complaints during a Sept. 11 anniversary service.
Barringer's proposal was heard during Monday night's City Council meeting
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
