Catholic military chaplain crisis?

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But Catholics are the largest religious group in the military but now have the fewest number of chaplains there.

Since 2001 the number has dropped nearly a half and there weren't a lot to start with.

Dan Springer has more on the Catholic chaplain crisis from Seattle down.

Yeah -- -- this is -- really important story especially as a Catholics around the world are celebrating Good Friday -- preparing to celebrate the most holy day of the year.

Easter Sunday but soldiers -- are deployed are almost certainly.

Doing this on their own because there are only 200 Catholic chaplains in the entire military.

That's a racial one chaplain for every thirteen hundred Catholics who are fighting for this country.

Number of Catholic -- is dropped 46%.

The last decade and that means servicemen and women who are deployed.

May go months without seeing a priest and receiving the sacraments.

-- -- staples on account for quite good to be denied that when your certain in the service of your country.

Is is a travesty.

A father Charles -- nine knows how difficult that can be on the troops he served ten months and Afghanistan.

And was the only.

-- priest for 28 Ford operating bases he says a chaplain because he is a counselor and a spiritual advisor plays a critical role.

It is really a force multiplier.

And the military archdiocese is now addressing the crisis with the new recruitment effort.

Aimed at the civilian side of the church it is offering to split the cost of training and seminary in.

In exchange the priest we'll start out as a chaplain and when he retired at age 62 from the military -- -- serve at a local parish.

And it's working well a couple of years ago there was a -- of two seminarians trained to be a chaplain.

Now there are 31 including Michael hole for.

I'm motivated and -- -- love of god not to give myself to a church and also little in my country country as.

Been very good to me as has the church.

-- from its beginning the US military put a premium on having chaplains believing that a spiritually healthy soldier.

One who is willing to sacrifice all.

Is a better soldier -- thank you very much Dan Springer from Seattle.

That.

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