http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/without-priests-catholic-military-personnel-seeking-out-protestant-pastors/

Without priests, Catholic military personnel seeking out Protestant pastors

Baltimore, Md., Nov 16, 2010 / 12:54 am (CNA).- Military Archbishop Timothy Broglio told bishops at their annual gathering in Baltimore that the U.S. military is facing an alarming shortage of priests that is increasingly leading Catholic servicemen to seek help from Protestant pastors.

Calling it a “pastoral problem” that “affects all of us,” Archbishop Broglio appealed to bishops across the U.S. during the annual Nov. 15-18 meeting in Baltimore to consider sending more priests to help serve in the military.

“As you know, the Archdiocese for the Military Services assures the pastoral care for people from your respective particular churches,” he told the bishops. When these people “hang up their uniforms and return home,” he added, “I would like to be able to return them to you as Catholics.”

Approximately one fourth of active duty personnel – 400,000 people – and their immediate families are Catholic, he said.

At present, these Catholics “are served by only 275 priests in a territory that covers the globe,” the archbishop noted. “Those numbers will shrink in the coming years.”

Because many in the armed services often face grave situations, he said, questions about the meaning of life and the existence of God often surface.

“They are at great risk because there are not nearly enough priests to meet their needs,” he said. Speaking of the growing trend for Catholics to seek help from Protestant ministers, Archbishop Broglio said “our separated brothers and sisters are more than eager to fill the gap created by the absence of a priest.”

“If we are not there,” he said, “someone else will be.”

Archbishop Broglio also lamented the increasing amount of ѕυιcιdєs that occur in the military. He said that one ѕυιcιdє occurred per day this last June in the U.S. armed forces and asserted that the presence of a priest is essential in helping prevent future “tragedies.”

“We cannot abandon” service men and women “at the moment of their greatest need,” he added.

Archbishop Broglio concluded his remarks by urging the bishops in attendance at the annual meeting to “to consider sending one more priest to the military.” He also appealed for the bishops to designate a day of prayer for peace, an end to ѕυιcιdєs, and to express gratitude to U.S. military personnel.

I was after my step-son in the Navy to make certain he found a priest and went to confession. He said not to worry. There is one huge building and it is for everyone to attend. All religions are welcome and  so yes, he said he does attend the services there.
Yes, I told him that was wrong, but how do you fight the crowd?

     :drillsergeant: I remember when I was in the Military, the "Catholic" chaplain admitted to me and several others at the lunch table that he didn't believe in God's existence. This ofcourse surprised all of us at that table

Wow! Maybe military Catholics are better of with Prot pastors after all. At least they believe in God.