USF-I chaplains can gather information that may not be shared through normal military channels during engagements with Iraqi religious leaders throughout the country, said Lt. Col. Ira Houck, the United States Forces- Iraq world religions chaplain.
“We, the chaplains, are the religious leaders in the military and religious political leaders in Iraq have respect for the integrity of our office,” he said. “It’s because of our position that they will tell us information about their areas of expertise that they wouldn’t share with anyone else.”
Religious leader engagements have a history extending back to WWII and the rebuilding of Europe that followed, Houck said. In Iraq, these engagements have been happening since 2003.
Religion is a big part of Iraqi lifestyle and politics, he said. There is no separation of church and state here.
Col. Mike Lembke, USF-I chaplain, says they try to focus on religion rather than politics during their discussions, but that doesn’t mean they don’t discuss how beliefs play into politics.
“When we meet with religious leaders we talk pretty specifically about the effects of religion,” Lembke said. “This includes the ability to exercise religion, security for those practicing their beliefs, and how it mixes into the political field.”
Houck, who facilitates most of the engagements, has met with leaders from Sunni, Shia, Yazidi and Christian backgrounds.
These faiths share similar themes such as peace, reconciliation, justice, integrity and harmony, Lembke said. This provides common ground to discuss issues and to work together as theologians and people of God.
Such commonalities become important when speaking with both minority and majority religious groups.
“We provide a voice for the minority religious groups who are often excluded from powerful political parties,” said Houck. “In order for command to address conflict situations properly, you have to have all parties heard.”
“We bring the voices of the minorities to the attention of the USF-I command staff and our strategic partners in Iraq,” Houck said. “We inform them if they are experiencing discrimination, or persecution, but we also tell them how minority religions are experiencing change in Iraq.”
“Orphans, women, and religious minorities are all important components needed to rebuild Iraq,” said Houk. “We can’t ignore the essential needs of society, and when minority groups excluded from the process are added together, they quickly become a majority no one is hearing.”
Lembke says he wants to see Iraqis talking with Iraqis despite their differences. He hopes these engagements will encourage leaders of different sects to start meeting with one another.
Houck says the combination of governmental agencies, like the Ministry of Education, and nongovernmental agencies, such as human rights organizations, and religious sects will play a significant part in the success of Operation New Dawn as they begin to work together.
“With New Dawn approaching, it’s going to become increasingly important as the military decreases and diplomacy increases that the religious leader engagements continue as a function of advisory role for the command,” said Houck.
“There are stories of particular individuals and remarkable leaders who are a representative voice for the people. That voice is heard by the USF-I commander and included in the plans for building Iraq,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2010 04:27 |
| Story ID: | 54947 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
This work, Chaplains provide new perspective on Iraq, by SFC Britney Hiatt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
