VA Chaplains Barred from Mentioning Nurses, Alex Pretti in Prayers
In Massachusetts, Veterans Affairs chaplains received instructions this week forbidding them from mentioning VA nurses, specifically Alex Pretti, at worship or gatherings, and from offering them support or counseling. This directive, originating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was issued following the death of Alex Pretti, a VA nurse in Minnesota. Despite the local order, VA spokespeople later clarified that this prohibition is not national policy, and that chaplains are welcome to memorialize Pretti respectfully. This situation arose amidst internal frustration among VA employees regarding the lack of agency-wide acknowledgment of Pretti’s killing and concerns about staff and budget cuts within the department.
John Q. Hosedrinker