September 7, 2020
The U.S. Navy will end its provision of Catholic Masses at its bases in San Diego, California, over budgetary restraints — ending its contracts with local Catholic priests who lead the services — while continuing to provide other religious services.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported:
Catholic Masses at San Diego-area Navy bases have ended because the Navy, in what it says is a cost-cutting move, has declined to renew its contracts with Catholic priests, and there are not enough Catholic chaplains on active duty to fill the void.
Protestant services on bases, which are led by active duty chaplains, will continue, said Brian O’Rourke, a Navy Region Southwest spokesman.
The changes to the Navy’s religious ministries are part of a national realignment announced on Aug. 20. It is unclear how many priests this will affect.
Vice Adm. Yancey Lindsey, the commander of Naval Installations Command, described the decision to cut on-base Catholic services as a function of accessible alternatives available in surrounding communities.
A shortage of Catholic priests within the Navy’s clergy, the Chaplain Corps, necessitated the contracting of non-military Catholic priests to lead religious services on bases.
Several parishioners who spoke with the San Diego Union-Tribune challenged the equity of the Navy’s termination of Catholic services while maintaining Protestant services.
Two retired Navy personnel described decades of attendance at on-base Catholic Masses, lamenting the forthcoming challenge to established military Catholic congregations.
“It is unfair,” said Bill Bartkus, a retired Navy senior chief. “I’m very sad that I can’t go to Mass anymore on the military base where I’ve been going 40 years. I’d like to stay in my own military community. We know each other.”
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