September 2002 | Peceworks No. 46
Captain Paul McLaughlin
The Chaplain's Evolving Role in Peace and Humanitarian Relief Operations
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Key Points
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Chaplains have traditionally served as professional clergy persons conducting divine
services and providing religious education; officers managing the Command
Religious Program, facilitating free exercise of religion for all, providing pastoral
care, and advising on religious, ethical, and moral issues; leaders for the command in
areas of faith and moral values, professional ethics, personal growth, and
adjustment; and subject matter experts providing input on issues affecting morale, values,
ethics, suicide, and trauma/stress. Chaplain Corps history from all the services also
demonstrates that while the chaplain's role has been clearly defined, there has been a
consistent tradition of going outside these defined boundaries.
- With the U. S. military's increased involvement in peacekeeping and humanitarian
assistance operations, chaplains are now more likely to engage with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private voluntary organizations (PVOs), and
international organizations (IOs). While such involvement will never become the primary role
of the military chaplain, possessing the skills to do what the situation at the time
requires will prepare and allow chaplains to contribute significantly to the success of
the mission beyond their traditional roles. U. S. Navy policy and doctrine should
more thoroughly account for these changes. Chaplains' engagement with NGOs--particularly humanitarian organizations present during the initial phases of an
intervention--depends upon policy and doctrine, the mission commander, and the level
of the military organization at which a chaplain works.
- Chaplains should be mindful that cultural differences exist in the military-civilian
relationship in areas such as decision making, accountability, flexibility, aims and
expectations, time perspective, and trust. Further, as a member of the U. S. military,
nothing the chaplain endeavors to do will ever be perceived as disconnected from
certain political considerations. Both chaplains and NGOs are political beings
responsible for the consequences of their actions at all levels.
- Chaplains can significantly enhance their effectiveness with NGOs if they are at the
appropriate location as the operation unfolds. Participation in Civil-Military
Operations Centers (CMOCs), Humanitarian Assistance Survey Teams (HASTs),
and Joint Task Force (JTF) Assessment Teams to assist in coordination of NGO-military activities is recommended in JTF doctrine and policy. Later in the operation,
Civil Affairs teams may also benefit from chaplain involvement. Chaplains' status as
"members of the clergy"or "endorsed religious leaders"provides them with credentials no one else will have. It also gives them access to certain leaders, populations,
and locations. The chaplain, as a neutral and noncombatant, may attempt to create
or strengthen meaningful relationships with leaders of political factions that will
contribute to reducing the conflict and building a foundation for peace.
- By virtue of their vocation and training, chaplains possess qualities that potentially
make them valuable participants in the military-NGO partnership during a peace
or humanitarian relief operation. Both chaplains and NGO personnel possess
invaluable training in humanitarian issues, and both have the desire to bring an end
to suffering and disease in people's lives. NGO personnel may give chaplains some
degree of trust simply because of their religious authority--and if given, this trust
should be conserved and deepened. The chaplain can advance NGO agendas, clarify
the NGO point of view when advising the commander, or explain to NGO personnel the perspective and concerns of military leaders. Although a member of the
military, the chaplain is the person who has the greatest affinity with NGO players and
a natural choice as a working partner and command representative.
- Significant obstacles continue to hamper chaplains in the NGO-military
relationship. U. S. Navy policy and doctrine should be updated to allow chaplains to become
involved in areas outside the strictly "religious. "This could also bring about
synchronization at the policy and doctrine level between the Navy, Marine Corps, and
Joint Task Force--and jump-start subsequent practical training appropriate to both
service and multi-service environments. Research projects might help to determine
what role a chaplain could play in the civil-military and humanitarian assistance
operations centers and teams present in an intervention, and at what point in the
intervention a chaplain should be called upon to be an active participant.
About the Author
Paul F. McLaughlin is a captain in the U. S. Navy Chaplain Corps and is currently staff
chaplain for the United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida. In 1998-2001, he
served as the chief religious and moral adviser to the commanding officer of the U. S.
Naval Station in Rota, Spain, and as pastor to the Navy community there. McLaughlin's
eighteen-year Navy career has included tours of duty in Italy, Japan, the Philippines, and
the United States, as well as aboard Naval surface ships. He served as a NATO chaplain in
Bosnia for six months in 1998. In the course of his career, McLaughlin has earned
numerous awards, including the Defense Meritorious Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1971 and has served parishes in Connecticut
and Florida. He holds a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Connecticut.
Chaplain McLaughlin was the U. S. Navy fellow at the U. S. Institute of Peace in 2001-2002.
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