Houston Vets Cemetery Director Bans Christian Prayer-Turns Chapel into Meeting R

[Pandora]

WTF?!

Houston National Cemetery Director Arleen Ocasio banned the words “God,” and “Jesus” during funeral services at the cemetery.

Director Ocasio also demanded that pastor’s submit their prayers for approval. She turned the chapel into a meeting room.

Veterans Allege VA Censoring Prayer: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

FOX 2 reported on the controversy:

    Local veterans say the Department of Veterans Affairs is consistently censoring their prayers, banning them from saying the words “God,” and “Jesus” during funeral services at Houston National Cemetery.

    Three separate organizations have come forward complaining the cemetery’s director and other government officials are violating the First Amendment. Members from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion and the National Memorial Ladies all complain of “religious hostility” at the cemetery.

    On Tuesday they told a federal judge what’s been going on there.

    “People are doing things out there that I feel like they shouldn’t be,” said Jim Rodgers, a Vietnam veteran.

    “We are private citizens in a private organization, and yet we are restricted from saying what our ritual calls for,” said John Spahr, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

    A 26-page complaint outlines the allegations. According to the court papers, the cemetery’s director, Arleen Ocasio, bans the word “God” and requires prayers to be submitted for government approval.

    “We were told we could no longer say “God bless you” and “God bless your family,” said Marilyn Koepp, a volunteer with the National Memorial Ladies.

    The group attends about 60 funerals a week to honor veterans and console families.

Yesterday Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) called for the termination of Houston National Cemetery Director Arleen Ocasio.
Your Houston News reported:

    Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02) on Wednesday, June 29, sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC, and issued the following statement in response to recent allegations regarding religious discrimination by the Director of the Houston National Cemetery:

    “I am deeply troubled by the allegations that were brought to my attention when I met with members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Houston,” said Poe. The director of the Houston National Cemetery, Arleen Ocasio, allegedly has engaged in aggressive hostile censorship of religion at the second largest cemetery for veterans in the United States.

    “The First Amendment is a sacred right of all Americans, especially those who have honorably served — and given their lives — in the name of protecting the United States. Denying their families their constitutional right to the free exercise of religious freedom is disgraceful and shows blatant disrespect for America’s veterans. If these allegations are true, I formally call for the termination of Arleen Ocasio as the director the Houston National Cemetery. This display of authoritarian behavior and religious discrimination should not be tolerated.”

    LIST OF ACCUSATIONS
    1) Director Ocasio and other Cemetery Officials instructed Veterans of Foreign Wars District 4 to remove prayers from its burial rituals and to no longer utter remarks when handling the discharged shell cases from the rifle salute to the family of deceased veterans.

    2) Cemetery Officials instructed American Legion Post 586 to remove prayers from its burial rituals.

    3) Director Ocasio told the National Memorial Ladies that it could no longer include “God Bless” in its condolence cards or speak a religious message to veterans’ families.

    4) Director Ocascio shut down the Cemetery chapel; it is now a “meeting facility.”

Good. This leftist Christian-bashing nut needs to be fired.

[IronDioPriest]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR....





(Not a very Christian response to anti-Christian Leftism, I know. But dammit...)

[Charles Oakwood]

Call Houston National Cemetery Director Arleen Ocasio at 281-447-8686 (extension 206) and tell her this will not be tolerated.   In addition, please call the VA in Houston and Washington DC, along with your local Congressman.  The phone numbers are listed below:

Dept. of Veterans Affairs (Houston Office) 713-383-1999

Dept. of Veterans Affairs  (DC Office) 202-373-5400

Congressman:

Ted Poe (Kingwood Office) 281-446-0242  (DC Office) 202-225-6565

Michael McCaul (Katy Office) 281-398-1247  (DC Office) 202-225-2401

Kevin Brady (Conroe Office) 936-441-5700  (DC Office) 202-225-4901

Pete Olson (Sugar Land Office) 281-494-2690  (DC Office) 202-225-5951

John Culberson (Houston Office) 713-682-8828  (DC Office) 202-225-2571

Al Green (Houston Office) 713-383-9234  (DC Office) 202-225-7508

Gene Green (Baytown Office) 281-420-0502  (DC Office) 202-225-1688

Ron Paul (Lake Jackson Office) 979-285-0231  (DC Office) 202-225-2831

Sheila Jackson Lee (Houston Office) 713-655-0050  (DC Office) 202-225-3816

 

Callers, below is a sample script, since listeners often ask us to make it as easy as possible.  Remember to be polite, but firm.  Demand a response.

Congressman/Senator ___, I am a veteran of [your branch].  I served in [conflict or country].  What is happening at the Houston VA has to change.  Will [elected official] make a call right now to change it?  I want an answer.

If you’re not a veteran, but a family member, state that.  If you are neither, simply state your anger over this and demand a response.

Don't just write! You must call as well.

Read more: http://www.the950.com/pages/michaelberry.html#ixzz1QmCTrt3a

[Libertas]

Libiots make my inner monster very very angry!!!

[Charles Oakwood]

They must have read, On The Declaration & Our Duty To Resist Tyranny
http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,2097.msg23494.html#msg23494?
No, they couldn't have, she just published it yesterday.  Oh my, freedom's breaking out everywhere.

[John Florida]

Screw her and keep doing what you're doing till the courts get involved!!What's she gonna do stop the funerals?

[Pandora]

KTRH talks to Undercover Congressman John Culberson

He wants Ocasio gone.

[Libertas]

Good!  Get that imbecile out!

 

[John Florida]

Good!  Get that imbecile out!

 

  You know that there's a lawyer all ready and waiting to file a suit to protect her.

[Libertas]

Good!  Get that imbecile out!

 

  You know that there's a lawyer all ready and waiting to file a suit to protect her.

I don't care, and neither should they.  You'd think a first year law student could argue in court that we have separation of church and state, not separation of church from state...individual rights and the free exercise thereof and all!  So screw her and her attorney's!

 

[John Florida]

Good!  Get that imbecile out!

 

  You know that there's a lawyer all ready and waiting to file a suit to protect her.

I don't care, and neither should they.  You'd think a first year law student could argue in court that we have separation of church and state, not separation of church from state...individual rights and the free exercise thereof and all!  So screw her and her attorney's!

 

 OH no doubt!! I would love to see her perp walked off the property.