Remarks to Chaplains and Interreligious Council Members (21 Oct 08)

Distinguished members of the Interreligious Council, good afternoon and thank you very much for joining us today.

We’ve invited you here to meet some very important people from the United States military.  Our military chaplains provide guidance and support to millions of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen all over the world in the times of need. 

Our chaplains are here first and foremost to work with the RSLAF to channel your religious tolerance into a Sierra Leonean chaplaincy to help the soldiers who defend this country find comfort in their times of need.  So often, when a soldier is far from home and family, a chaplain can become his or her only shoulder to lean on or to cry on.  We believe that the RSLAF can harness Sierra Leone’s laudable religious tolerance to help those who serve this country.  We hope that these fine gentlemen of the United States military can provide some guidance on how we’ve set up our Chaplaincy, in the hopes that we can share useful experience.

We are proud to share the ideal of religious tolerance and diversity with Sierra Leoneans.  Sierra Leone is in a position to teach other countries about tolerance, and we hope that you will continue to be a model for other nations in Africa and around the world.  You should all be proud of your exceptional reputation for religious tolerance. 

Our chaplains are here as representatives of the United States Military, and of the United States Government, but above all, they are members of the clergy.  Visiting a country with so much wisdom to share, we wanted them to have the opportunity to meet you, fellow clergy and religious leaders, to share thoughts and successes in promoting the ideals of religious freedom we all hold so dear.

Thank you again