Face of Defense: Army Guard Gets Its First Muslim Chaplain

[kpete]

Source: American Forces Press Service

Face of Defense: Army Guard Gets Its First Muslim Chaplain

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Johnathon Orrell
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 24, 2010 – A Texas National Guard officer will become the Army National Guard’s first Muslim chaplain in December.


Army 1st Lt. Rafael Lantigua, right, of the Texas National Guard shakes hands with Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, during a Ramadan dinner in Washington, D.C. Lantigua will become the Guard's first Muslim chaplain in December 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Darron Salzer

Army 1st Lt. Rafael Lantigua, an ecclesiastically endorsed, fully ordained minister, will assume his post after finishing classes required by the Armed Services Chaplain Board.

“I am humbled for this opportunity to be a role model for other members of my faith throughout the military,” he said.

As he was growing up, Lantigua was not a Muslim. He decided to convert when he was a teenager, he said, and he attributed that decision to the diversity of his background. His Baptist mother is an African-American, and his Roman Catholic father is from the Dominican Republic. After his parents divorced, he said, his mother married a Buddhist.

Read more: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=61001

[James48]

1. Congratulations

Congrats to Lt. Lantigua.

One thing that all Army Chaplains must do- and that is to show respect for the religious preferences of all members of the Armed Services.

It is amazing this gentleman is from Texas as well.

Good job, sir. Good job.

May God guide you in your service to our nation.

[lakers4life24]

2. And Right Wing Heads are Exploding from a distance

If you listen very closely you can hear little popping sounds.

Fox News will tell anti-islamic homophobic Tea Baggers that the Chaplain is actually a sleeper cell.

[ZombieHorde]

3. Are Army chaplains paid using tax dollars? nt

[James48]

4. yes. n/t

[ZombieHorde]

5. How unfortunate. nt