Controversy over Catholic pastoral care at military hospital.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has come under fire for not renewing a contract for Franciscan priests to provide pastoral care, and instead hiring a secular firm, Mack Global LLC, to oversee provision of those services. The decision has drawn criticism from Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and also is archbishop for the Military Services, and some members of Congress. The medical center said it issued a cease-and-desist order on April 4 when Franciscans continued to provide pastoral services after their contract expired on March 31.