Archbishop Broglio laments cancellation of U.S. Army chapel contracts

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaks at the USCCB fall plenary assembly Nov. 14, 2023. / Credit: USCCB video

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 17, 2025 / 14:08 pm (CNA).

Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy Broglio expressed concern about the U.S. Army canceling certain chapel contracts, which he warned “disproportionately harms Catholics.” 

In a pastoral letter also sent to all members of Congress, Broglio wrote that many in the Army who attend Mass and participate in faith formation may have noticed “contract services and contractor offices were dark and music was absent during Mass” beginning on Oct. 5, 2025.

He said this was not a result of the ongoing 16-day government shutdown, but was instead caused by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command’s decision to cancel all chapel contracts for Coordinators of Religious Education (CRE), Catholic Pastoral Life Coordinators (CPLC), and musician contracts in the Army. 

Broglio wrote that these contracts for musicians, administrators, and religious educators “served the faith communities at military chapels” and have been essential to assist Catholic priest chaplains in their duties. 

The archdiocese, he wrote, “has been especially dependent upon the professional skills and theological training of CREs, who under the guidance of the priest, oversee the daily needs of religious education, coordinate catechist certification training for the thousands of men and women who volunteer as catechists, and ensure that proper materials are prepared and procured.”

“In canceling these contracts, the Army over-burdens Catholic chaplains, harms chapel communities, and impedes the constitutional guarantee of the free exercise of religion especially for Catholics,” Broglio wrote.

“The cancellation of chapel contracts may appear to be a neutral elimination of chapel support which itself affects the free exercise of religion for all soldiers,” he said. “However, this action disproportionately harms Catholics, first, because Catholic chaplains are already so low density and in such high demand, and second because the Catholic faith requires continuing religious education and sacramental preparation that can only be accomplished through competent support.”

Broglio cited a RAND report saying, “There are approximately six Protestant chaplains for every 1,000 Protestant soldiers, and approximately one Catholic chaplain for every 1,000 Catholic soldiers.” 

A U.S. Army spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.