[Apologetics] U.S. Navy allows Catholic Mass on Georgia base, but lawsuit continues

[Art Kelly]

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/u.s.-navy-allows-catholic-mass-on-georgia-base-but-lawsuit-continues
U.S. Navy allows Catholic Mass on Georgia base, but lawsuit continues

by LifeSiteNews staff 

Thu Oct 17 11:13 AM EST

KINGS BAY, Georgia, Oct. 17, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) - 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.

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.

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.

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.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, says the lawsuit will continue despite the navy's reversal.

"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."

"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."

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.

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.

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.

Art
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