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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><A
href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/u.s.-navy-allows-catholic-mass-on-georgia-base-but-lawsuit-continues">http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/u.s.-navy-allows-catholic-mass-on-georgia-base-but-lawsuit-continues</A></FONT></DIV>
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<P class=articleHeadline><STRONG><FONT size=4>U.S. Navy allows Catholic Mass on
Georgia base, but lawsuit continues</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=articleAuthor>by LifeSiteNews staff </P>
<P class=articleDate>Thu Oct 17 11:13 AM EST</P>
<DIV id=article-body>
<P>KINGS BAY, Georgia, Oct. 17, 2013 (<A
href="http://lifesitenews.com/">LifeSiteNews.com</A>) - The U.S. Navy has backed
down after a Catholic priest filed a lawsuit alleging he had been told he could
face arrest if he attempted to offer Mass at the Kings Bay Naval Base in
Georgia.</P>
<P>The navy had banned Catholic services as part of the U.S. government
shutdown, though it allowed other religious services. News that it had backed
off came Wednesday, before legislators in Washington reached a deal to end the
shutdown Thursday.</P>
<P>On Monday, the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a public interest law firm
based in Ann Arbor, MI, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Father Ray Leonard
and parishioner Fred Naylor.</P>
<P>According to the Thomas More Law Center, late Tuesday afternoon, in response
to the lawsuit, three attorneys from the Department of Justice contacted TMLC
attorney Erin Mersino by phone and indicated that Father Leonard could resume
all of his religious duties beginning Wednesday morning, and that the Chapel
would be open for all Catholic activities. These representations made by
the Department of Justice attorneys were confirmed by orders to Father Leonard
delivered through the Navy chain of command, TMLC says.</P>
<P>Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center,
says the lawsuit will continue despite the navy’s reversal.</P>
<P>“The actions of the Federal Government were a blatant attack on religious
liberty,” he said. “I would never have imagined that our Government would ever
bar a Catholic Priest from saying Mass under threat of arrest and prevent
Catholics from participating in their religious exercises.”</P>
<P>“Allowing the Chapel doors to open and Father Leonard to fulfill his priestly
responsibilities does not erase the Constitutional violations that occurred,” he
continued. “We don’t want this to occur again the next time there is a
government shutdown. Our lawsuit will continue.”</P>
<P>On October 4, 2013, the Department of Defense informed Fr. Leonard that he
was non-essential and would be furloughed, even given provisions in the Pay Our
Military Act, which cover the services of employees who contribute to the morale
and wellbeing of the armed services.</P>
<P>Fr. Leonard says he was threatened with arrest for visiting the chapel where
the Holy Eucharist was stored or celebrating Holy Mass on base on a voluntary
basis. Protestant religious services at Kings Bay were allowed to continue
throughout the shutdown.</P>
<P>During the government shutdown, Fr. Leonard and his congregation were forced
to cancel daily and weekend Mass, special blessings, marriage preparation
classes, counseling sessions, confessions and confirmations.</P></DIV></DIV>
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