A HuffPost report suggests the Pentagon has excluded Catholics from Good Friday services
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A report from the liberal HuffPost raised eyebrows among critics by suggesting that Catholics were excluded from the Good Friday service at the Pentagon.
HuffPost's senior political reporter, Jennifer Bendery, wrote that the Pentagon “invited more than 3,500 employees to attend the Good Friday service at the chapel.”
“Except it's only for Protestants, not Catholics,” Bendery wrote.
The report cited a memo sent to employees by Air Force leadership that read, “Just a friendly reminder: There will be a Protestant (No Catholic Mass) Good Friday service today at the Pentagon Chapel.” A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost that it was the only service held on Good Friday at the Pentagon chapel.
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HuffPost published a report suggesting that the Pentagon under Defense Department Secretary Pete Hegseth banned Catholics from attending their Good Friday service. (Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)
“I think Catholics know their kind is not acceptable,” an anonymous Pentagon official who shared the memo told HuffPost. “It's ridiculous.”
Bendery continued in the piece, “Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a far-right evangelical Christian, tried to insert his religious views into Pentagon operations.”
However, many on social media took issue with the design of the HuffPost report, pointing out how Catholics should not attend mass on Good Friday.
“Catholics here… we don't celebrate Mass on Good Friday,” Washington Examiner reporter Salena Zito told Bendery. “It is the only day of the year without a Mass, as the church remembers the death of Jesus.”
“Yes. It says there is no Catholic Mass on Good Friday because Catholics don't do Catholic Mass on Good Friday. Is there really no one to ask? No one? Not even Google?” National Review editor-in-chief Charles CW Cook responded.
Critics have targeted HuffPost on social media for its Pentagon coverage of its Good Friday service. (Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Catholics [technically] don't have a 'Mass' on Good Friday because there is no consecration of the Eucharist on Good Friday,” answered “Fox & Friends Weekend” producer Rachel Campos-Duffy. “We have a service where we read the Gospel of Christ, venerate the cross (we walk in a line to kiss the feet of Jesus on the big cross or the wood set apart for the big day of the cross of the host), and we have a dedicated cross for the big meeting on Thursday.”
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“FYI: Catholics do not have a Mass on Good Friday. It is a service, as there is no transfiguration. Where communion is given, there are pre-consecrated hosts. This sounds like a misunderstanding of the principles of sources or journalists,” wrote Hot Air managing editor Ed Morrissey.
“This person continues to write about Christianity and continues to show that he does not know Christianity at all. Catholics do not celebrate Mass on Good Friday,” wrote broadcaster Erick Erickson.
“Anyone here surprised that Jennifer doesn't have a good working understanding of Catholicism? Neither do I. But, OBVIOUSLY, not a single person on the editorial board has the slightest knowledge of Catholicism,” wrote Townhall editor Larry O'Connor.
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“Catholics don't do Mass on Good Friday. It would be upsetting for them to try to hold it. It's amazing how hard the left is trying to create divisions that don't really exist,” said RedState writer Bonchie.
The Pentagon holds Catholic mass every day, according to a Pentagon schedule obtained by Fox News Digital. (Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“What's ironic about the frenzy of journalists like this lady at @HuffPost is that you have THOUSANDS of Catholics correcting that there is no Catholic mass on Good Friday,” wrote Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham. “And yet his arrogance is such that even though he has been exposed as religiously ignorant to a large extent, he still refuses to accept this correction. He also suggests that Catholics will be barred from attending the Pentagon's Good Friday service if they want to attend, which I am sure is not true.”
A Department of Defense official told Fox News Digital that Catholic Masses are held daily at the Pentagon and that religious services are open to all Pentagon employees.
HuffPost's parent company BuzzFeed did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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