Presumably the last update on the 'Baths for Baptisms' story

I would like to thank a visitor to this site, Deb Conrad, for posting a copy of a letter she had received from the Office of the Cheif of Chaplains into the comment section of the blog (It's attached to the first story on this matter that I posted several days ago).  Since I have posted several times on the issue of Josh Llano and the report of his using baths as a bribe for giving baptisms, I wanted to go ahead and post the test of that message to the main blog, so that it can be more easily found.  Ms. Conrad also has several other points in the comment she left, and I do suggest reading it in its entirety.

Here is the letter she received:

Based on your earlier inquiry about the report of CH Llano, a US Army Chaplain, I wanted to offer you the following information. Thank you for your concern and interest. I hope this reassures you about the expectations of the Army and work of Army chaplains.

The free exercise of religion is a foundational issue to us in the chaplaincy. In fact, we first became aware of this at about 9:30 pm last Thursday, and by 10:00 pm that night, the Chief of Chaplains requested additional information. The Army respects and actively accommodates the religious practices of all soldiers. In accordance with the practices of many Baptist traditions, the Army provides water for full-body immersion baptisms when it is available.

Based on news reports and questions from members of the media, the Office of the Chief of Chaplains requested additional details on the accuracy of the quotations and the nature of the actions performed by an Army chaplain while in Iraq. There are some factual problems with the article. There have been tens of thousands of water produced each day at the Corps Support Base and readily available to soldiers for all personal hygiene, drinking water, and enough to allot water for a baptismal pool during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Army does not condone religious coercion. The chain-of-command, supported by the Chaplain Corps, ensures that soldiers are free to exercise their religious beliefs. The local commander has direct knowledge of the chaplain's action and has very high regard for the work of the chaplain.

Access to water was never used in any way as a bribe for baptism. Chaplain Llano states he did not offer any quotes or statements in response to questions by the reporter. He indicates she overheard conversations he had with another officer and these were presented as quotations. The supervisory chaplain has direct knowledge of the chaplain's actions and indicates the religious activities described by the reporter are attended by the choice of the soldiers. The Joint Force Land Component Commander in Kuwait has received no complaints of religious coercion from soldiers in the field.

The threshold for concern about protecting the free exercise is extremely low. Chaplains have performed their religious rites, sacraments and ordinances representing the faith group which sends them and provide for the religious support of all soldiers. The Chief of Chaplains affirms and commends the chaplains, chaplain assistants and directors of religious education deployed with US soldiers providing religious support at the risk of their lives.

Chaplain (Lt Col) Eric Webster
Office of the Chief of Chaplains

While I must say I'm not happy that the author of the original article (Meg Laughlin at the Miami Herald) apparently used overheard comments and presented them as if they were quotes from an interview, I must say I'm glad to hear that Lt. Llano was not behaving in the manner the article portrayed.  I am also quite glad that the Office of the Chief of Chaplains looked into it and was able to provide a response.  I never have gotten a response to my own message about the situation, but it's good that one has been made.

I know that information about the original article, and, in fact, copies of my own post about it, were passed around the net.  I hope that people will also be willing to pass around copies of this response, so that it can be out there as well - especially given that it appear the intial article did not paint a true picture of what was happening.

Thanks again, Deb, for sharing your thoughts and the response you got!