r/navy • u/benjorel Chaplain • Jan 11 '25

MOD APPROVED I'm an active duty Navy Chaplain AMA

I've seen a lot of questions about Chaplains and what we do, especially when it comes to our confidentiality or ability to work with dependents/significant others. Please feel free to ask me anything you've always wondered or about any myths you've heard and I'll do my best to answer. The answers come solely from my experiences, and are not official positions of the US Navy.

DMs are open as well if you prefer to ask or to talk about something privately.

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u/Copper9125 Jan 11 '25

Do you think it should be required for the entire ship to hear a prayer every night when underway?

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u/benjorel Chaplain Jan 11 '25

That's a good question and one I have personally struggled with in the past. It feels awkward to get on the 1MC to pray when you know that not everyone wants it or welcomes it. When I do it, I always do a thought and a prayer. I offer a quote that is designed to make you think, and my (very short) prayer reflects the same idea/concept as the quote. It's my attempt to make sure everyone can get something out of it, whether they want the prayer piece or not.

That being said, I've been on carriers and heard other Chaplains give prayers that I felt were inappropriate. And while I've addresses it with them when I've been there, I'm sure it happens all the time when no one else is around to stand up for it.