WASHINGTON, DC – His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA (AMS), is directing all priests in service to the U.S. Military to continue exercising their religious liberty and offer Mass at military installations during the ongoing government shutdown.
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In a Sept. 30 email to Catholic U.S. Military chaplains and priests, AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, the Reverend Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., notified them as follows:
“Archbishop Broglio directs AMS priests to exercise their religious liberty and continue to offer Mass at the chapel at the regularly scheduled times, especially on Sundays, and to continue to serve especially in hospital settings where end of life care is essential. Where possible, AMS GS (General Schedule) or (Department of Defense) Contract priests are encouraged to reach out to local parish priests who are not contracted by the U.S. government and legally assist in the provision of the Holy Mass and the Sacraments to the faithful on military installations, without being paid for doing so. In this arrangement, AMS GS and contract priests can offer to cover the Masses at a local parish; effectively arranging for a temporary ‘swap’ until the shutdown has been resolved.”