By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Pentagon’s Good Friday service, which was advertised as exclusively Protestant with no Catholic observance, is fueling further criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This follows recent reports of Hegseth hosting evangelical services within the Pentagon and a broader shake-up of senior military leadership. Critics argue these actions demonstrate a pattern of religious insensitivity and politically motivated leadership changes, with particular concern for the impact on women and Black officers who have been disproportionately affected by recent dismissals.
Read the original article here
The Pentagon’s recent decision to host a Protestant-only Good Friday service, explicitly excluding Catholics, has ignited a firestorm of religious bias concerns, casting a shadow over broader criticisms of leadership purges. This exclusionary act has brought to the forefront deeply ingrained historical tensions and the concerning rise of Christian nationalism within the United States. Many are pointing out that this move smacks of a regression, echoing past periods when anti-Catholic sentiment was a significant force, a sentiment some fear has been revitalized by a certain faction seeking to wield religious influence for political control.
The exclusion of Catholics from a significant Christian observance at a military institution like the Pentagon is seen by many as a blatant endorsement of a narrow, exclusionary definition of Christianity, particularly by white Protestant evangelicals. The idea that a significant portion of self-proclaimed Christians do not even consider Catholics to be Christians is a stark and unsettling revelation for many, suggesting a widening chasm fueled by a march towards Christian nationalism. This internal religious strife, once simmering beneath the surface, is now bubbling up in ways that suggest a predictable, yet still alarming, conflict is inevitable when such exclusionary ideologies are allowed to dictate policy.
This incident has led many to reflect on America’s historical relationship with Catholicism, recalling a time when Catholics were viewed with suspicion and accused of disloyalty due to their allegiance to the Pope. The narrative that they were un-assimilable and a threat to Protestant dominance, once a staple of groups like the Ku Klux Klan during its 1920s resurgence, appears to be finding new life, albeit in a more insidious form. The KKK’s history of harassing Catholic communities through intimidation and boycotts serves as a potent reminder of the dangers inherent in religious intolerance, a history that many feel is being brushed aside or even embraced by current trends.
The Pentagon’s decision is being framed by some as a direct consequence of allowing “exclusionary dipshits” to hold positions of influence, with the predictable outcome being that eventually, even those who align with certain factions will find themselves excluded. This sentiment is echoed by those who view figures like Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump as apostates and heretics, suggesting their actions stem from a desire to avoid any actual Christians who might expose the hollowness of their religious pretenses. For Catholics who see themselves as devout Christians, the exclusion is not just an administrative oversight but a profound rejection by individuals who actively oppose the core tenets of their faith.
The fundamental principle of religious freedom within the military is being called into question. The argument is simple: either allow all individuals to practice their religion freely within the military, or cease all religious services altogether. The idea of the government playing arbiter, picking and choosing which denominations are worthy of official recognition or observance, is seen as a gross overreach and a violation of established principles of church-state separation. The fact that the Protestant service is the only one scheduled at the Pentagon chapel for Good Friday, with no alternative offered for Catholic personnel, underscores the deliberate nature of this exclusion.
The exclusion of Catholics from a Good Friday service at the Pentagon is particularly jarring for many who believe Catholics have a unique and profound understanding of the Lenten period and Good Friday, perhaps even more so than some evangelical traditions. The absence of a “Happy Good Friday” greeting from Catholic individuals, as noted by some, highlights a focus on the solemnity and sacrifice inherent in the day, a theological nuance that seems to be lost on those orchestrating these exclusionary events. It’s seen as an ironic turn of events, watching Catholics, who historically have faced periods of being ostracized, now realizing they are not considered part of the “in-group” by those who claim to represent a broad Christian coalition.
This situation is also prompting a re-evaluation of the political landscape, particularly for Catholics who have supported certain political movements, only to find themselves on the receiving end of discriminatory practices. The notion of a “Big Tent” GOP is being questioned as Catholics are now finding themselves in the “find-out stage,” realizing their inclusion may have been conditional or based on a misunderstanding of the true exclusionary nature of some factions within the party. This has led to comparisons of such actions to those of the Taliban or a proto-Gilead, suggesting a descent into an authoritarian, religiously enforced social order.
The historical animosity between certain Protestant denominations and Catholicism is being brought up, with the observation that “the only thing a baptist hates more than a satanist is a catholic.” This visceral sentiment is being linked to the political alignment of some, suggesting that even those who identify as Catholic MAGA supporters are realizing they were never truly part of the favored “in group.” Anecdotes about family rifts and societal disapproval over Catholic intermarriages in past decades, particularly in the 1950s and during John F. Kennedy’s presidential run, illustrate the deep-seated nature of anti-Catholic prejudice that has persisted in certain segments of American society.
The current debate around whether America should be a “Christian nation” is also being reframed, with questions arising about which specific brand of Christianity is being advocated for. The idea of combining church and state is viewed as detrimental to both, leading to a degradation of religious principles and the erosion of a just society. The comparison of a figure like Pete Hegseth to a Klansman, highlighting the KKK’s historical animosity towards Catholics, underscores the perceived severity of the current religious and political climate.
This exclusion is being seen as another instance of religion becoming a root of corruption and division in the world, rather than a force for unity and good. For those who served in the military during periods where encountering Catholics was a rarity, the current situation is a stark indicator of how religious lines are being drawn and enforced. The core of the First Amendment’s religious freedom clause, intended to protect Christians from each other, is being invoked, with the warning that any move towards a theocracy could leave many discovering they are the “wrong type” of Christian.
Ultimately, the Pentagon’s Good Friday service exclusion of Catholics is more than just an isolated incident; it is a potent symbol of a growing religious intolerance and a concerning trend towards Christian nationalism that threatens to undermine the foundational principles of religious freedom and equality in the United States. The broader criticism over leadership purges is amplified by this religious controversy, suggesting a deeper rot within the institutions that are meant to serve and protect all citizens, regardless of their faith. The call to action for those affected is clear: to move beyond prayer and focus on voting to effect meaningful change.