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Pete Hegseth announces Office of Religious Affairs

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the creation of an Office of Religious Affairs during a speech on Sept. 30 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The new office will report directly to Hegseth and future secretaries of defense to provide chaplains with a direct line to leadership and remove secular bureaucratic layers.

Hegseth stated the office will have the authority to protect budgets, secure infrastructure, and strengthen religious support. A Department of Defense statement noted the office will not favor one faith, compel religious participation, or diminish the rights of personnel of any faith or those with no faith.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, said it hopes the office will strengthen support for service members, their families, and the chaplain corps. The archdiocese noted that prioritizing spiritual readiness and shortening the time between identifying field needs and making senior decisions could help resolve historical constraints that limited chaplaincy support.

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Earlier version, Sunday 4 October

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to give chaplains greater authority

Earlier version, Friday 2 October

Pete Hegseth creates Office of Religious Affairs

Earlier version, Friday 2 October

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth establishes Office of Religious Affairs

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 1, 2:50 PM The Catholic Sun Hegseth announces ‘Office of Religious Affairs’ in speech on Pentagon policy
  2. Oct 1, 2:49 PM OSV News Hegseth announces ‘Office of Religious Affairs’ in speech on Pentagon policy
  3. Oct 1, 2:50 PM Catholic News Agency Catholic military archdiocese ‘appreciates’ Pentagon’s new religious affairs office
  4. Oct 1, 2:41 PM Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA Archbishop Broglio’s Statement on the Establishment of the Office of Religious Affairs
  5. Oct 1, 4:27 PM The Catholic Leader US military boss shifts focus towards autonomous weapons with AI-enabled targeting and launches religious office
  6. Oct 1, 2:50 PM Catholic World Report Catholic military archdiocese ‘appreciates’ Pentagon’s new religious affairs office
  7. Oct 1, 2:49 PM Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Hegseth announces ‘Office of Religious Affairs’ in speech on Pentagon policy
  8. Oct 2, 2:27 AM Crux Pete Hegseth creates a Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs reporting directly to him
  9. Oct 2, 3:00 AM National Catholic Register Catholic Military Archdiocese ‘Appreciates’ Pentagon’s New Religious Affairs Office
  10. Oct 2, 10:13 AM The Catholic Register Hegseth announces 'Office of Religious Affairs' in speech on Pentagon policy
  11. Oct 2, 1:20 PM National Catholic Reporter Hegseth announces 'Office of Religious Affairs' in speech on Pentagon policy
  12. Oct 3, 2:39 AM RISU Українська У Петагоні створять Управління у справах релігії
  13. Oct 3, 12:00 PM ZENIT News Agency The Pentagon Grants Chaplains Greater Authority: U.S. Armed Forces to Strengthen Religious Support for Soldiers
  14. Oct 3, 11:54 AM ZENIT News Agency Español El Pentágono otorga mayor autoridad a los capellanes: Fuerzas Armadas de EE. UU. reforzarán apoyo religioso a soldados

More from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA

  1. Oct 17, 12:15 AM PT · 21 sources Archbishop Timothy Broglio obliges Catholics to request to be excused from firing squad
  2. Oct 15, 5:59 PM PT Archbishop Timothy Broglio welcomes 20 US military couples to marriage retreat in Germany
  3. Oct 8, 11:16 AM PT · 7 sources Archbishop Broglio preaches at Red Mass
  4. Oct 8, 6:13 AM PT Prospective Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Ordained Transitional Deacon in Rome
  5. Oct 6, 10:37 AM PT Bishop Gary R. Studniewski celebrates Mass for Sea Services at National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
  6. Oct 5, 12:21 PM PT Archbishop Broglio Stands United with Brother Bishops in Virginia on November Ballot Initiatives

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