Hospital Cancels Contract with Catholic Friars, Republicans Demand Answers | EWTN News Nightly

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Republicans are demanding answers from the Biden Administration as a major US Military hospital cancelled a long-standing contract with Franciscan friars who minister to veterans and US service members. Republicans are not letting it slide, many have written to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanding to know why the contract was cancelled. For nearly 20 years, Franciscans have been ministering at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The cease and desist order came just hours before the beginning of Holy Week. Congressional Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Chris Smith says, "I think this is outrageous. This is one of the best hospitals for our military men and women, and not to have the chaplain available to them through the friars is just... How dare they do this?" Republican Congressman French Hill has yet to receive a response from the Secretary of Defense. He says, "As a devout Catholic, these actions were unimaginable – patients at Walter Reed should have access to the proper Catholic services as this goes against our fundamental First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion." Catholic Senator Pete Ricketts praised the Church's ministry in hospitals. Capitol Hill Correspondent, Erik Rosales reports. ------------ EWTN News Nightly provides the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Join host Tracy Sabol, our Capitol Hill, White House and Rome Correspondents, as well as many other diverse guests daily, to get the latest from the U.S. and the Vatican on topics regarding our Catholic faith and interests. ------------- EWTN News Nightly airs on EWTN weekdays at 6pm & 9pm ET. ------------ Don't miss an episode of EWTN New Nightly. Get updates here: https://www.ewtn.com/tv/shows/ewtn-news-nightly ------------- Sign up today to receive the EWTN News Nightly newsletter: https://www.ewtn.com/enn ------------- Follow EWTN News Nightly on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnnewsnightly Twitter: https://twitter.com/EWTNNewsNightly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ewtnnewsnightly/ ------------- Subscribe to EWTN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/EWTN ------------- You can support the EWTN News mission: https://bit.ly/3qDR1qf