Home > Anything Else > Update: Houston National Cemetery to Veterans: The Word ‘God,’ ‘Jesus’ are Offensive, No Longer Allowed

Update: Houston National Cemetery to Veterans: The Word ‘God,’ ‘Jesus’ are Offensive, No Longer Allowed

07/04/2011 Leave a comment Go to comments

You can contact the Houston National Cemetery by calling (281) 447-8686.  Let your voice be heard loud and clear.  For those in the area, please also take the time to join the July 4th rally being planned at the Houston National Cemetery between 10:00 and 11:00 am.  Celebrate your Independence Day by standing up for freedom …

“The Houston National Cemetery has told veterans and volunteers alike that they can no longer use the word ‘God,’ ‘God bless,’ or ‘Jesus’ at any and all funerals or condolence cards. The word has been deemed ‘offensive.’

That is according to local volunteer and veterans groups that work at the cemetery. They are now suing the Cemetery in federal court so that they can use the word God.

To cite one specific example given in the suit, the director of the cemetery, Arleen Ocasio commanded volunteers never to use “God bless you” and “God bless” ever again at the cemetery.

Cheryl Whitfield, founder of Houston National Memorial Ladies, could not simply stand by. ‘I could’ve kept my mouth shut and let things happen, but when it comes to standing up for your belief in God and giving comfort to the families, I don’t want to regret not saying anything,’ she said. ‘We all had to stand up for what we believe in.’

Specifically, the suit brought against the cemetery and the Department of Veterans Affairs states that there has been ‘a widespread and consistent practice of discriminating against private religious speech.'” Read more.

Local coalition of pastors calls on Texas Congressional Delegation to demand removal of Houston National Cemetery Director – “Houston, TX – A greater Houston coalition of pastors representing a broad ethnic and denominational spectrum is planning an event on the 4th of July to call for the removal of Arleen Ocasio, director of the National Cemetery in Houston. Ocasio ignited controversy prior to Memorial Day by attempting to censor a pastor’s prayer, and has issued a general policy prohibiting reference to God or Jesus as well as other prohibitions of religious expression at the cemetery.

Pastor Willie Davis of Houston, an Army Special Forces veteran himself, stated on behalf of Houston Area Pastor Council that Ocasio’s actions are offensive in every possibly way and should result in her termination. ‘We concur wholeheartedly with Congressman Ted Poe’s call for her dismissal for these egregious attacks on the sacred right of expressing religious faith on the hallowed ground of our National Cemetery on behalf of those who died to protect that right,’ Pastor Davis declared. ‘There can be no better way to spend a few minutes on Independence Day than to stand together as a community at the National Cemetery and make our voices heard.'” Read more.

Update July 4, 2011:  More than 1,000 attend rally at Houston National Cemetery to call for director’s firing – “HOUSTON—More than a 1,000 people showed up for a rally held Monday to call for the firing of the director of the Houston National Cemetery. Veterans and clergy were expected to show up to the rally, which started at 10 a.m. at the cemetery. The event, organized by the Houston Area Pastor Council, came days after at least two members of Congress called for the termination of Arleen Ocasio amid allegations of religious censorship.” Read more.


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Categories: Anything Else
  1. Kirby's avatar
    Kirby
    06/30/2011 at 9:56 PM
    Reply

    It would seem Ms. Ocasio thinks she is God. Funerals are for family and friends to pay their last respects to their departed loved one. So long as the procedings are within bounds of reason, and I’ve not heard of one that hasn’t met with social norms, then outsiders, like Ms. Ocasio, should keep her narrow-minded opinions, beliefs and egocentric behavior to herself.

    Sometimes people with titles tend to overstep the power they are given. Ms. Ocasio, or so it would seem, is such a person; pompous-ass comes to mind.

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  2. ICA's avatar
    ICA
    06/30/2011 at 10:18 PM
    Reply

    Agreed.

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  3. ICA's avatar
    ICA
    07/04/2011 at 4:58 PM
    Reply

    Updated – More than 1,000 attend rally at Houston National Cemetery to call for director’s firing

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  4. Margie Remely's avatar
    Margie Remely
    07/04/2011 at 7:57 PM
    Reply

    My father is buried at the National Cemetery and my mother and brother will be when they die too. We are all honored to know Dad is in this wonderful cemetery for Veterans. How dare Arleen Ocasio tell us what we can feel or say at the funeral of our loved ones. When we bury them, we are grieving the loss of a loved one. We should not have to worry about what we or anyone else says at a funeral or memorial service when we say our last goodbyes. Shame on you Arleen! You need to leave your office and give the position to someone who really loves this country and what it was founded on-the love of God and Country! This country is in enough turmoil. This cannot go on. We have to stand up to you and say no!

    Margie Northrup Remely-the proud daughter of a WWII Army Veteran Roger Leon Northrup I

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  5. ICA's avatar
    ICA
    07/04/2011 at 9:21 PM
    Reply

    Amen Margie. And the sooner Arleen Ocasio steps down, the better.

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  6. Ivy's avatar
    Ivy
    07/05/2011 at 12:37 AM
    Reply

    July 4, 2011

    This is a formal complaint in regards to the attempted ban/censorship of the words ‘God’ and ‘Jesus Christ’ by Director Arleen Ocasio and the attempt to remove Christianity and religion from the Houston National Cemetery Services. This is in direct violation of our First Amendment Constitutional Right of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion. These rights are inalienable and guaranteed to every citizen of the United States of America. Because these rights are inalienable no man has the authority to take away what God has given. For any government official to practice religious discrimination against a citizen of the United States of America is against the law.

    WE ARE CHRISTIANS.

    Our parents Richard E. McDonald and Gladys L. McDonald are buried in Houston National Cemetery.

    The burial site was a family decision because our father Richard McDonald loved his country and honored his country with his service in the United States Navy. In 1997, it was our decision which was based on the honor and integrity of the Houston National Cemetery for our mother and father to be interred in their final resting place, the Houston National Cemetery.
    Will we have to seek to exhume our parents’ remains from the Houston National Cemetery and place them in soil where the Constitution of the United States of America is honored, respected and obeyed?
    Sincerely,
    Ivy J. Raschke
    Richard McDonald

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  1. 07/26/2011 at 5:56 PM
    Texas Lawmaker Calls for Congressional Probe Into Ban of Christian Prayers at Military Funerals « MidnightWatcher's Blogspot

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