VA Chaplains Force Christianity On Disabled Jewish Vet ?

Posted by Bruce Wilson at 7:40 AM on May 5, 2007.

"Since moving back to Iowa about two years ago I have been thrust into a struggle with the Iowa City Veterans Hospital & Clinics over religious discrimination and Christian proselytizing." - Jewish Navy Veteran David "Akiva David" Miller

As part of a pervasive pattern of religious discrimination a disabled Jewish US Navy veteran says he has encountered at the Iowa City Veterans Administration Hospital and Clinic, David "Akiva David" Miller writes: "Over time it has become clear that each experience of discrimination is not isolated from the others; in fact the problem of religious discrimination is systemic to the Iowa City VA.... I am a disabled veteran who served my Country honorably in the US Navy. I am also an Orthodox Jew ....not only did the hospital refuse to notify my Rabbi, as I requested, they sent a Protestant chaplain in to see me each time. The first two visits by the Protestant (Assembly of God) Chaplain were all about trying to convert me - trying to convince me that I needed Jesus, that Jesus was the Messiah of the Jews too - this while I was suffering chest pains and wired to a heart monitor!  ....The Federal Courts have ruled that publicly funded hospitals may not engage in proselytizing. Clearly the actions of the Iowa City VA are in violation of the Constitution's provision for the separation of Church and State as well. So, now I am fighting back in earnest." [for full text of Miller's description, and follow up posts, see extended story]

David "Akiva David" Miller's story, may fit within a larger pattern of pervasive religious discrimination within the US military ; former Reagan Administration lawyer, and USAF Air Force Academy graduate Mikey Weinstein has founded the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to oppose the very sort of aggressive promotion of Christianity within the US military establishment that Miller describes.

Here is the full, initial story that was originally posted on May 1, 2007, on  the Daily Kos website, in which David "Akiva David" Miller describes his experiences at the Iowa City VA:

Since moving back to Iowa about two years ago I have been thrust into a struggle with the Iowa City Veterans Hospital & Clinics over religious discrimination and Christian proselytizing.

Over time it has become clear that each experience of discrimination is not isolated from the others; in fact the problem of religious discrimination is systemic to the Iowa City VA. I think a perfect metaphor for the problems at the Iowa City VA Hospital & Clinic (hereafter referred to simply as "Iowa City VA") is the orientation process. When a veteran moves to the area or in any way begins to access services at the Iowa City VA they are required to attend an orientation class - this class is held in the Christian Chapel, decorated with the Stations of the Cross and a Crucifix in front.

I am a disabled veteran who served my Country honorably in the US Navy. I am also an Orthodox Jew. When I moved back to Iowa and notified the Iowa City VA that I would be accessing their services, they directed me to attend the orientation class. When I refused to enter the chapel (which I found distasteful) the staff attempted to pressure me; however, I held my ground and in the end the staff told me that I would just miss out on the information provided in the class (and threw the hand-outs at me.) At that point I dutifully lodged a formal complaint with the patient advocate. This has been about two years ago now, but orientation classes are still only held in the Christian Chapel. Could it be that the Iowa City VA is really trying to establish their underlying Christian intent with every orientation class?

Over time I experienced volunteer Christian musicians singing and playing hymns and religious Christmas songs in the waiting room of the clinic. More than once I was forced to listen to the music while I sat in the clinic, waiting to see my doctor. I filed another complaint with the patient advocate, but again this did nothing to remedy the problem.

In the examination room where my primary care physician's nurse takes my vitals prior to every physical examination, she has Christian symbols and scriptures prominently displayed. Once again, the Iowa City VA doesn't see anything wrong with this.

But the most blatant examples of religious discrimination have revealed themselves during my hospitalizations at the Iowa City VA.

My medical records clearly indicate that I am Jewish; however, with each admission I have informed the nursing staff both verbally and in writing that: 1. I require kosher food; 2. I do not wish to be visited by anyone from the Chaplain's office; and 3. I requested they contact my Rabbi - and provided them with both his name and telephone number. Despite these instructions, during all three of my hospitalizations I have been denied kosher food and have had to endure my entire hospitalizations without eating. Further, not only did the hospital refuse to notify my Rabbi, as I requested, they sent a Protestant chaplain in to see me each time. The first two visits by the Protestant (Assembly of God) Chaplain were all about trying to convert me - trying to convince me that I needed Jesus, that Jesus was the Messiah of the Jews too - this while I was suffering chest pains and wired to a heart monitor! I raised hell about both of these visits; so during my third hospitalization, when visited by a different Protestant Chaplain, he tried to excuse his visit and explained that he was there only to find out if I needed a Rabbi. I explained to him that I had informed the nursing staff both verbally and in writing that I wanted them to contact my own Rabbi and provided them with both his name and number, but he said that would be impossible, then left.

The Federal Courts have ruled that publicly funded hospitals may not engage in proselytizing. Clearly the actions of the Iowa City VA are in violation of the Constitution's provision for the separation of Church and State as well. So, now I am fighting back in earnest.

I am trying to reach out to other area veterans to see if anyone else has experienced religious discrimination at the Iowa City VA. I am working with Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's staff who has pursued the matter with the Director of the Iowa City VA, but met (like me) with only excuses and hostility. I have also contacted Americans United for the Separation of Church and State as well as Mikey Weinstein, the Founder & President of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. I am working to put together enough evidence to support legal action against the Iowa City VA, to put an end to their systemic religious discrimination. In the meantime I am meeting tomorrow afternoon with representatives from the chaplain's office, the patient advocate and both Iowa City Rabbis. It is my hope that at some point the Iowa City VA will come to their senses before they are confronted with legal action.

See here for updates on Miller's attempt to get official recognition of the religious discrimination he has described at the Iowa City VA

Tagged as: discrimination, military, va, iowa, jewish

Bruce Wilson writes for Talk To Action, a blog specializing in faith and politics.