Church accuses Walter Reed of violating right to freedom of religion

The Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services is accusing Walter Reed National Military Medical Center of violating patients' First Amendment right to freedom of religion by terminating a contract with Catholic priests ahead of Holy Week.

The archdiocese claimed on Friday that Walter Reed — the nation's preeminent military hospital that also serves congressmen and presidents — issued a 'cease and desist order' against the Holy Name College Friary, a Franciscan community of priests that had served at the center for nearly 20 years.

As part of the order, the archdiocese said, the Catholic priests were directed to halt religious services at the hospital ahead of the Church's commemorations of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Vigil, and Easter Sunday.

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