The Catholic Defender: William Harvey Jett

I have received many blessings throughout my life, meeting many people from all over the world. That is one of the perks of 26 plus years in the United States Army. You get the chance to do a lot of traveling at the expense of the Government.

When I was stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky, I had a lot of good opportunities to have family time as well as travel through deployments and field exercises.

When I was home, I was always involved with my children as they were growing up. Sports was always a major part of our entertainment. Music was also another major part of our life as my children developed interest in playing music. They certainly had a lot of influences in the musical field as we would go to a lot of concerts when the opportunities were there, but none as much as friends of ours from Dixon Tennessee.

Gilead was a group consisting of two Fathers and their sons and that was a great witness. I first met them at a "March for Jesus" event in Clarksville Tennessee. They played a concert at the end of the March and they were great. I would have them play at Fort Campbell for Soldiers and their families on several occasions. In this picture, I am helping them with their equipment as they made me feel a part of the band! For a while we would go to their practices on Tuesday evenings and it was a lot of fun.

Another great influence that inspired a musical interest was William Harvey Jet. William was a one time lead Guitarist for Black Oak Arkansas in the later 1960's early 1970's. An upcoming young band known as Lynard Skynyrd would open up for Black Oak Arkansas in early 1971.

I first met William Harvey Jet in the early 1980's in Harrison Arkansas when he played a concert there. That was a really great concert. William eventually left Black Oak Arkansas after he discovered the importance of following Jesus Christ. As an 18 year old, he was playing before hundreds of thousands of people making a million dollars plus a year. He had all the women he wanted and all the drugs as well. William would give all that up for a much higher noble cause.

I found William Harvey Jet accidentally years later working selling cars right outside of Fort Campbell. I was able to arrange a concert for him on Fort Campbell at the Recreation Center and he had not lost a beat.

I was also able to arrange another concert for William in Clarksville, but there was one catch for this one, he needed some players to help him. Well, having one of the best Christian contemporary groups in the area for friends I was able to get William Harvey Jet and Gilead to practice together and perform a live show.

These practices and performances were very influential on my Children as they would pick up playing music. This is one of the highest rewards I have been given to be able to see my Children really grow in talent, something that I never had. I can barely play a radio let alone a guitar or drums. But I am a good manager and so I was able to be deeply involved as a manager of our group, "Final Hour".

This taught them how to write songs and arrange music which we had several really good songs of our own.

In the early 1980's I had participated in doing presentations on Secular Rock Music and so I was almost solely hooked into Christian Music. This was also a major influence and I am glad that good wholesome music played a major role for my Children. Our Faith is the most important gift we have been given and to see this in their musical expression is a joy.

Why should the Devil have all the good music? A question that William Harvey Jet eventually would discover as he now plays Christian Music. The Catholic Church today has recently put forth a number of great musical outreaches through the inspiration of the Late Great Pope John Paul II and I am so glad.

The following is an example of one of the songs that William Harvey Jet and Gilead practiced and performed. This for me is a great demonstration of Art and I loved it, I hope that you will also:

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

The Catholic Defender: Perfect Timing

"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Have you ever considered time? Have you really thought about time? Sometimes it seems that all we have is time, that we have a lot of time on our hands. Then it seems like we never have enough time in a day. Some live only for today while others live in the past. Still, others only dream of the future.

No matter how sophisticated man becomes, time continues to push forward and it seems that we never learn from the mistakes of the past. How soon we forget that we continue to open old wounds. Ecclesiastes asks the question, "What advantage has a worker from his toil"? In our day and time, it seems that more and more people prefer to ride in the cart instead of helping pull it. With the debt the United States owes can we continue to afford the spending without concern of the mounting debt. Can we simply afford to pay for those wanting a free ride? St. Paul says "In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

How do you spend your time? Are you a workaholic? No time for relationships, your wife, children, family? What about God, do you have time for prayer, to go to Mass? Consider that the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary asks us to pray the Rosary for sinners, do we have time? Do we make time in our busy day?

With all the competition in the world seeking your time, what do you yield your time to? Jesus warns, "Let them (wheat and weeds) grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, 'First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."

Sloth is one of the "7 Deadly Sins", consider Jesus words, "His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?" (Matthew 25:26)  Also "If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks." (Ecclesiastes 10:18)

It is very important to spend your time wisely. If you are deeply in-debt, it is important to settle with your creditors. To live within your means. As an Army Non-Commissioned Officer, I often dealt with young Soldiers who wanted everything now. They get themselves in debt and get themselves into trouble. Our U.S. Government is not conducting good business because we are wasting so much and not balancing our national budget. As a family, we must live within our means.

Jesus warns, "Amen, I say to you, you will not be released (from purgatory) until you have paid the last penny". Even though this is a spiritual teaching of Jesus, it is true in the real world today. Time is of the essence to balance our affairs and get them in order. Concerning the "Sings of the Times", Jesus warns, "You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?" (Luke 12:56)

Hebrews 13:7-8 says, "Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Consider the Church's "way of life"? What example does the Church hand down from the Apostles to us? First, we are to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus! We are to seek his face and pick up our cross and follow him. It matters not if your a Soldier in the Army, or a clerk working at a bank in Battle Creek Michigan, we are to live out our faith and work to shape our culture.

Jesus warns, "They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation". Jesus is speaking of the Destruction of Jerusalem specifically, but he is also speaking to you and me. We must be spiritually alert to recognize His Visitation in our lives! Do we renew our Baptismal/Confirmation Vows and allow the Holy Spirit to grow within us? Do we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist every opportunity? Do we take time to pray?

Consider the Lord's warning, "The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away". (Mark 4:14-17)

What happens if we do not spend our time wisely? What happens to Christians if they choose to participate with sin, pornography? You will fall. Today, Christian youth going to College lose their faith as they expose themselves to sin and vice, false philosophy. We did not use our time wisely by helping others, working for the Kingdom of Heaven because we have been compromised with the way of the world.

The Catholic Church was given the "Ministry of Reconciliation", consider what St. Paul warns, "We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made himself to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Working together, then we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain". We are to continue to grow in our faith, it is a journey, a pilgrimage.

St. Paul continues, "In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is the very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation". (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

From our Baptism and Confirmation, the day of salvation is at hand, may we truly spend our time wisely much like how an athlete prepares for a race. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Then on that Day, Jesus will say, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the home of my Father"! That would be the result of time well spent!

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

The Catholic Defender: PSALMS 23

Early in my first deployment with the First CAV Division, 2-5 CAV, serving in Iraq between October 2006 through January 2008, I went out on many missions.

As the Medical Platoon Sergeant, I was never one who sat behind a desk, I was out checking on my troops and supporting missions. I would be responsible for setting up all the Medical support for all our Unit's missions in our Theater of Operations.

This included all the secondary jobs I was responsible for such as Field Sanitation, the care of prisoners, JSS Medical Support, major offensives against the enemy, and Safety concerns.

There were many other odd jobs that I was responsible, but these were among the most important in my day to day operations. Anytime I would go outside the wire, I always would sing Psalms 23 as I remembered my Son's Nathan and Jason arranging it in our band "Final Hour".

That tune would come to mind and I would sing it as I prepared. One of the great blessings I was to learn was that some of the Platoons would stop and pray Psalms 23 before they would go out on missions.

That was awesome. They would go through their pre-combat checks and gather around for the recitation of Psalms 23. The Psalms states:

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths For His Name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
For you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord My whole life long.
[Psalm 23:1-6; NRSV]

I would return to Iraq for a second deployment with the 2-5 CAV between February 2009 through January 2010. Through these two deployments, I was able to help many Soldiers and Civilian Contractors come to the Lord, Jesus Christ through His holy Catholic Church.

When I had the opportunity, I was very much involved leading bible studies, the Rosary Patrol, and RCIA. I was stationed at Sadr City where much of the war effort was concentrated.

We were inside walls right inside the City. Kind of felt like being in the Alamo, especially when a threat would come our way. We would not have a Priest but once a month, and that was more than a lot of our JSS sites out in the Theatre of Operations.

We had our Battalion, Brigade spread out all over and it was imposible for a priest to hit all these locations. I was given the great blessing from the Archdiocese of the Military to conduct Catholic Lay Services (Liturgy of the Word)in the absence of a Catholic Priest.

This was important because I was able to touch base and support our Catholic Soldiers. Promoting the Rosary and offering it was important for many as well as Psalms 23. It was a release, a chance to put behind the war for a little while, to give them strength and encouragment. The following is a live version of the song "Psalms 23" performed by two of my Son's Nathan and Jason.

---

Home page DTB facebook Page You Tube Blog Talk Radio Show

36 years ago today

I was a 12 year old boy and, like today, the forecast was for a big snowstorm. When you are 12, big snowstorms are a big deal. So it was with this one.

It was a Monday and our school let out early because of the snow. When you were a 7th grader in 1977, that meant it was time to get the sled out. The big snow storm was preceded by a big ice storm and that meant that the fresh pack of snow lay on top of a fast track of ice beneath it.

....A very fast track.

The emt's that arrived at the scene estimate that I was traveling in excess of 50 miles per hour when I struck the pole. The loss of blood caused me to go into a coma and then grand mal seizures resulted from the head trauma.

I nearly died in the hospital....in the ambulance ride to Walter Reed....on the operating table. Doctors told my grieving parents they did not expect me to live through the night.

God spared me. 36 years ago today. I don't know why.

Thank you, Lord. Help me to help you save someone else.

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

The Catholic Defender: Frontline

The Church is under attack from every imaginable direction, have you ever seen it to this extent?

I served in the Army and know what it is to be on the frontline, the tip of the spear. This domestic battle is bringing on the frontline right in our own homes, our families, and our nation.

When they come at you with their Pro-Gay Activism, just say no! When they come at you with their Pro-Abortion support, just say no! When they come to steal your children, just say no! Jesus wants us to take a stand for him, so that when the darkness comes in like a flood, just stand up! Say yes to the Lord.

There is still much good we can do if we only take that stand. Just consider this, because of the work of deepertruth, Catholic Answers, Defenders of the Catholic Faith (DCF), Catholics Come Home, and other fine Catholic outreaches, The American Catholic reports that 92,000 fallen Catholics returned back into the Catholic Faith in the Phoenix area. Praise the Lord, Jesus Christ! For that we should all be out there "Tebowing"!!!

I was just watching Fox New and it was reported that the Mayor of Pittsburg, Luke Ravenstahl had to wear a Denver Bronco jersy losing a bet with the Denver mayor. Here he is doing the Tebow prayer prose!

Look at what one man has done when the whole world said he can't? Yes, you can! If your a Mom or Dad dealing with a teenager, take heart and keep the faith!

If your struggling to find a job, do not lose hope, keep the faith! No matter what the obsticle, keep the Faith! Do not give in to the temptation of giving up, realize that we are all in a battle for souls, to include our own. St. Paul writes, "Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in immortality" Ephesians 6:23.

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

Yes, I get emotional about this. Common sense must prevail in the gun control issue.

People have been flipping out at me on Facebook for what I believe to be a pretty unassailable position.

Guns like this one have no business being in the hands of citizens and no amount of blather from the NRA is going to change that. There simply is, nor ever has been, an enumerated Constitutional right for average people to own and use weapons of mass murder.

In 1980, a man named Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States and, though I was only a teenager, I found myself in agreement with nearly everything the man stood for and have been a staunch Conservative ever since.

Becoming a Catholic Conservative has put me at sharp odds with even members of my own family on issues such as the unborn, homosexual marriage, the military and the death penalty. However strong my Conservative leanings, they cannot violate what I believe and practice as a Catholic Christian and I abhor (and feel morally obligated to protest) the incestuous relationship between mainstream Christianity and the extreme National Rifle Association.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) are simply not what they claim to be. They do not represent, as they assert, a line of defense of basic second amendment rights. The second amendment states the following;

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Though I do reject the interpretation that a well regulated militia can only refer to The National Guard or some specifically government-sanctioned entity, I do recognize that the concept of well-regulated is firmly ensconced in the precept of the right to bear arms. It is madness to suggest otherwise.

Certainly, any reasonable person can see and understand the rights of citizens to defend themselves from burglars, rapists and wild animals. Without question, they also understand the rights of hunters to have guns for this purpose. Any one who does not understand these basic freedoms is an extremist and is, rightfully opposed by law abiding voters.

However, we Catholics must oppose all extremes of law and not exclude those that go in the opposite direction. There have been many that continue to shock me by openly positing that there should be no restrictions whatsoever on the type of weapon one should be allowed to own, nor in the size of the ammunition clip. To me, these people have allowed the gun lobby to hijack their sense of reason.

Even more alarming to me is the insistence by some that the very purpose of the second amendment is that citizens be armed against their own government! That argument is very frightening indeed. We, as Catholics and other Conservative Christians, ought not be advocating armed insurrection. I am very sure that is not something Jesus would do.

I am as terrified of Barack Obama and his cast of left-wing nuts as anybody but there is a statistical fact that there is just no getting over. That fact, simply stated, is that myself, my wife, my kids are far more likely to be slaughtered by some sociopath with an AR-15 than we are by some agent of the federal government. Adam Lanza, James Holmes and the duo of Klebold and Harris were not congressmen.

That assault weapons, sawed-off shot guns and the like, have no place in a civilized society, in the hands of John Q Public, is a matter quite beyond dispute and the thought that there may be such weapons in my apartment complex scares the living daylights out of me.

The two principal arguments that the gun nuts use, to defend this maddening proliferation of weapons of mass murder, are both illogical on their face;

1. We need these weapons because the criminals have these weapons.
2. If we let the government take any weapons, they will take all the weapons.

Anybody with common sense knows that there is no way to completely stop all gun violence but that argument misses the point. The reason that these arguments are invalid is because they both fail to answer the chief objection of where does it end? If a terrorist has a shoulder-fired rocket launcher, does that entitle me to one to counter it? If I have a Tank in my yard can I reasonably protest it's confiscation because the government might later return to take my .22 as well?

To me, the picture to the right says, with chilling clarity, what the NRA's position is on assault rifles. They are for the purpose of killing people with whom we disagree or feel we have a score to settle. When these guns are legally purchased, and we start with that mindset, all you need is to add a sprinkle of paranoia or rage and Newtown, Connecticut is the result.

The NRA protests that psychotropic drugs, violent movies and videos are the cause of this gun violence and that they, themselves, are not culpable. That dog just don't hunt. To some degree, it can very well be argued that all of those factors should be examined as causes of these deaths. However, the most immediate and proximate cause of these deaths is slugs flying from the barrel of a weapon that the NRA helped put into the hands of the killer. Any first degree law student knows that intent follows the bullet. If your intent is to make money off a weapon whose only intent is mass murder, the blood of Newtown is on your hands.

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

A letter from Dr. Gregory Thompson

My Dear Bishop Vasquez, and Mr. Maxfield,
First, I know that you do not know me, but I pray daily for our Shepherds to do what is right in God’s eyes, I pray for their protection from Satan, that they will stay humble, that they will stand for what is right, even if they stand alone.

This was what I had on a banner when I was Superintendent of Schools, “Stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone.” Isn’t that what Jesus did? Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will work through each of us, and that we can bear witness to the truth, like Jesus did, even to the point of death if necessary, out of love for the
Holy Trinity and for our brothers in Christ.

A priest once said, “Every Christian (Catholic) has the moral obligation to bear witness to the truth, “In season and out of season, convenient or inconvenient,” accepted or rejected. “I’m afraid that it has become more necessary than ever to remind ourselves of it.” Jesus lived this, bearing witness to the truth, and it is a necessary part of justice.

We can see in Proverbs how God felt about truth even in weights and measures. When we do not seek truth and give due process, we allow evil to work through people to do harm. Men are put in positions that can allow evil to win by saying nothing, or fear God and do what is right.

Proverbs 20: 9-10 states, 9 "Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin"? 10 "Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God".

When we see so many people leaving the faith, and so much scandal within the Church the last few years, it continues to grieve me for my Lord and Savior when someone wears the name Catholic, and then does things that the Lord would never do. Yet we live in the world, and Satan has been roaming to destroy, divide, and devour anyone who is unashamed to lift up Jesus.

When I was Superintendent, like you, I could not do anything until someone made me aware of it, so I come to you as a servant for the Lord, to ask you to make things right, when you hear the whole story in context.

Donald Hartley was fired from his job at a Catholic Hospital in Killeen, Texas on Christmas day while working for someone else, and saying something about Christmas. Donald has been called the Catholic Defender for years while serving in the Army for over 26 years. He has brought in over 1,000 people into the Catholic faith, and has been given a gift to be a gentle giant to people in his demeanor, even as he is a Spiritual Servant Warrior for the Lord.

He has been influential in my walk and that of countless others. He is an apologist for the Catholic faith, and so kind to people, while also a great defender of Mary and the Eucharist.

When he has someone go against the Catholic faith, while he does stay loving and kind, it is like the other person brought a broken sling shot to a nuclear war in the way that he defends the fullness of truth in the Catholic faith.

Pray for the person that complained and the person that unjustly fired Don, because Satan must have hold of them, or they would never do something like impacting his family in a negative way, and on the day our Savior was born to Mary, for trying to bring Christ’s love to others.

Your Excellency and Max, have Don come in to speak with you, he is one of your sheep. This way, by having due process, you will know the truth, and see what an asset Don is, in fact, Bishop, I believe that if you were to speak with Don you would probably want to put him to work in the Diocese with his evangelistic and teaching gifts for the times we live in, to help people have an insatiable hunger to know their faith and to help bring back those that have fallen away because of ignorance of their faith.

Max, I just thought that you may not be Catholic, but let me tell you, that I do not believe that it is theoretically possible to have someone in Don’s position that cares about doing what is right and cares about people more than Don, I guess it is possible that you could have one that cares as much in both areas, but know that you have a rare jewel in Don that will honor God and honor you.

While I was Superintendent of Schools, I was president of 15 School districts, State Chairman of the Sportsmanship Committee, and on the State Performance Committee, and I tell you this only to let you know that I answered all correspondence addressed to me from students, parents, community, staff, other administrators, and the State. Please allow me a moment of your time to address this and make it right. I will await your reply. My love and prayers in Christ to your families.

In HIS Service through Mary,

Dr. Gregory Thompson

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

An open letter from Gloria Hartley, John Benko

---

January 11, 2013,

Gloria S. Hartley, RN
(Address withheld here)

Mr. Matt Maxfield, CEO
Seton Medical Center
850 W. Central Texas Expressway
Harker Heights, Texas 76548
            254-690-0900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            254-690-0900      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            254-690-0900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            254-690-0900      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      

Re: The termination of Donald Hartley, Eagle Security Systems, for being Catholic in a Catholic Hospital.

Sir:
I am writing to you as a nurse of many years, as a practicing Catholic, and as a wife and concerned citizen of this community.

As a nurse: I have always had a deep respect for the Security provided by the hospitals that I have worked. I looked at them as persons of protection, not only for my safety,but, for the safety of the patients. I have seen them defuse situations involving aggressive, combative, and psychotic patients/visitors.

As an Emergency Room nurse, I always made a point of knowing the Security personnel in my areas for the following reasons: They have actually saved my life from combative & psychotic patients who were acting out and uncontrollable and from gang war participants who actually presented to the ER to do bodily harm to the patient/caregivers.

This was at at UAB (Level I) Emergency Room in Birmingham, Alabama. Therefore, during my 38 year tenure as an RN, I have developed a deep respect for the Security personnel and a dependence on their specialized skills.

Some years ago I worked for St. Vincents Hospital in Birmingham and, though a non-Catholic at the time, I respected the beliefs and the philosophy of the hospital. As Head Nurse of the new born Nursing/NICU: Prayer was offered before each shift started, I performed baptisms on still born and babies who died after birth, and always asked the Pastoral Nun to "Send a prayer up for me Sister".
Sister would always smile and say "You know I will, you're handling precious cargo". This was comforting.

I have worked many holidays and missed important time with my family, all in my dedication to the patients. During these times I was appreciative of anyone trying to spread cheer to let me know they cared.

This tour at St. Vincents Hospital and their caring philosophy and staff encouraged me to seek knowledge of the Catholic Church and their teachings.

As a practicing Catholic: I am appalled at your decision to discharge a Security Guard for saying "Merry Christmas" to personnel on a unit during his rounds in the Hospital.

Catholics believe in Christmas AND this IS a "Catholic Hospital", named after St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Canonized August 28, 1974. One of her notable quotes is "Cheerfulness prepares a glorious mind for all the noblest acts".

Did the Christmas caroling the week prior to Christmas also offend this nurse? I can't think of many carols that don't mention the Christ Child or say Merry Christmas. How hard could it be for the disgruntled nurse to say 4 words "The same to you"? I have done it all my career. A nurse is not to be judgmental of religion or multiculturalism. "Catholics believe the spiritual needs should be given higher priority than the physical and temporal", therefore, we are obligated to call a priest when requested for sacramental ministry.
Giving counsel and emotional support are roles that they willingly accept with the patients or relatives. (1)

What would this argumentative nurse do in this situation? Would she sneer? What is her reaction, as a nursery nurse, to the stillborn or death after birth of the Catholic baby? Her reaction to Donald's "Merry Christmas" statement poses a lot of questions about her "dedication, generosity of spirit, especially for the persons most in need". (2)

The American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC), an entity of the American Nurse Association (ANA) states in Force 13: "Collaborative working relationship within and among the disciplines are valued. Mutual respect is based on the premise that all members of the health care team make essential and meaningful contributions in the achievement of clinical outcomes". (3)

Is the Security personnel not an essential part of the Health Care Team?

Donald Hartley, my husband and best friend, has a unique and rare optimistic attitude at all times. An optimism that has carried him through 26 years and 4 deployments as a respected and honorable U.S. Army Soldier. He has always projected this optimism to his Soldiers and acted as an advocate for them. General David Petraeus stated that "SFC Hartley was his favorite medic".

How do you justify the firing of a devout Catholic in a "Catholic Hospital", for trying to spread Cheer on Christmas Day? Shouldn't this nursery nurse and the H.R. personnel be scrutinized a little closer? Maybe they should read the mission and vision statement again. Or is this due to Political Correctness? If so, for shame!

Nursing is a fine art. According to Florence Nightingale, it is "the finest of fine arts." Nursing is not merely a technique but a process that incorporates the elements of soul, mind, and imagination. Its very essence lies in the sensitive spirit and the intelligent understanding that provide the very foundation for effective nursing care. (4)

Yes, I am my husbands most fierce advocate, as I am closest to him and know his dedication to Christ and his dedication to his family and work. In fact, I have worked side by side with him on many occasions as an R.N. in the Fort Campbell Emergency Room when he was AOD of the House. We have worked deaths, teen suicides and child abuse cases. Though it affected him greatly, he was a comfort to the families and always seemed to know exactly what to say to them.

You will never find a factual adverse account of Donald, in fact, you will only hear positive comments from his peers, former commands, friends and family. I challenge you to delve into this.

Eagle Security Systems fired Donald with a phone call! He was not even granted the dignity of a letter or a face to face with his supervisor. Isn't an employee of your facility supposed to get a letter and a chance to rebuttal?

I would appreciate your investigation of this travesty and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

_____________________________

Gloria S. Hartley

Copies:

Fr. Chris Downey, Holy Family Catholic Church
Bishop Joe Vasquez, Austin Diocese
Bill O'Rielly, Fox News Network

---

1. A Hospital Handbook on Multiculturalism and Religion; Neville A. Kirkwood; 2005; Morehouse Publishing.

2. Seton Medical Center Harker Heights, Mission, Vision, and Values
Statement.

3. American Nurses Association Mission Statement.

4. NURSING, The Finest Art; M Patricia Donahue, Ph.D., R.N.; 1985; The C.V. Mosby Company.

---

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez,

Contact Information

Contact: Melinda Johnson
Location: Pastoral Center
6225 Highway 290 East
Austin, TX 78723-1025
            (512) 949-2400 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (512) 949-2400      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (512) 949-2400 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (512) 949-2400      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      

---

From John Benko, friend of Donald Hartley.

Mr. Matt Maxfield, CEO
Seton Medical Center
850 W. Central Texas Expressway
Harker Heights, Texas 76548

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez,
c/o Melinda Johnson

Location: Pastoral Center

6225 Highway 290 East

Austin, TX 78723-1025

January 12th, 2013

Your Eminence and Mr. Maxfield,

     I am writing to express my moral outrage at the termination of Donald Hartley from Seton Medical Center for what amounts to nothing more than religious bigotry on the part of a nurse. In these days and times, I constantly think I can no longer be stunned but then I hear something like this.

     Donald Hartley is a decorated and heroic veteran who worked closely with General David Petraeus. He is also the very kindest, bravest and most sincere Catholic I know. Part of the mission statement of your hospital indicates that you are, in your care and actions, to exemplify the actions of Jesus Christ. I do not personally know a single person who does that better than Sgt. Hartley.

     At the last moment, Sgt. Hartley gave up his Christmas day because there was a need in coverage. That is the way this man is. In my view, He could very easily have said no. He gave up more than enough Christmases in Iraq, defending our country and the rights we enjoy.

     Among these rights are the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. He was fired for defending the very rights he put his life on the line to secure for you and I, sirs, am appalled.

     Let's get right to the marrow of the matter. Mr. Hartley was given an award on Christmas Eve for his service to your organization. He is the very epitome of kindness, civility and generosity and he never has an unkind word for anyone. This man was fired from a Catholic hospital, for defending Christmas Day, on Christmas Day from an over-zealous bigot. She attacked him, not the other way around. When she snidely asked if he really believed that Jesus was born on December 25th, He simply replied 'Yes, and it can be proven by Scripture and Tradition and even science". Nothing in Sgt. Hartley's words or demeanor were aggressive towards this person in any way. She simply disagreed with his opinion and got him terminated for it!

     Donald Hartley was trying to make the best of working on Christmas Day, something he was doing as a favor to you. Donald Hartley was simply spreading the joy of Christ and Christmas on His own birthday and he lost his job for it. 

     Sirs, I am acutely aware that your jobs must have tremendous pressure. However, a moral wrong has been committed here and you, as a Catholic medical institution, have a moral obligation to make it right. We are many deeply concerned Catholics and we fully intend to exert extreme pressure to ensure that you do, up to and including, picketing your hospital until this fine man is reinstated with your deepest apologies.

Sincerely,

John Benko
(address withheld here)

---

May any lover of freedom join us in this.

---

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

The Catholic Defender: I Am Not Ashamed

My heart is touched by the outpouring support that I have been receiving from everyone. God bless you as this situation has paid a toll on me.

Since it seems to be over a song that someone was offended, I will share this song which kind of says it all on the matter:

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

The war on Christmas

Tonight on deeper truth

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show

*BEST OF DTB #252* The Catholic Defender: My Walking Miracle

Today, my wife was completing a physical for a new job she has been hired. She will serve as a nurse with a position in Arizona. Travel Nursing is a great opportunity especially for our financial situations. My Wife ran into a friend who has known us for sometime. He remembered how my wife was a walking miracle.

It was early February, 2010, that my wife was diagnosed with having a high stenosis of the lower cavity affecting her circulation in her intestines. This is a condition that most of the time is found through an autopsy. It took her doctors over 6 months to find this diagnosis. My wife had previously lost over 44 pounds and was like a walking skeleton. I remember the terrible pain she endured, I think that the doctors in the beginning must of thought she was faking her condition. They were to find out in time that she was not.

A person can die a terrible death in a 24 hour period for not having blood flow through the intestines. My Wife discovered through the MRI, they found that she had two major vessels, the Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) and the Celiac Artery more than 90% closed off. Despite being 6 months undiagnosed, there was no necrosis of the intestines. This is a real miracle. I had dedicated the daily rosary for a number of years and so I definitely attribute my wife's miraculous to the rosary and prayer dedication.

Something else about my wife that I am so thankful, when ever I have encountered great difficulty she has always been there for me. We have supported each other through all the tough times. She is also this years Christmas miracle for me as I had to work twelve hours at Seton Hospital. I was off for Christmas from my regular job and so I was able to pull this shift for my part time job at the hospital.

On Christmas Eve, I was actually awarded a "reward and recognition" certificate and coin for an event that took place at Seton Hospital. According to the form that was written on my behalf it reads:

Respect: Don is always very respectful of and to patients, visitors and employees.

Communication: He has awesome communication skills.

Professionalism: Don's past military service shapes the way he handles professionally his work as a Security Guard.

Service: When ever I need Don in Labor and Delivery he is here in a minutes notice.

Safety: The Safety of everyone in this hospital is always his upper most concern.

Commitment to Co-Worker: Don is one of the finest Christian men I have ever met.

What a wonderful write up this was that someone would write this up on my behalf. I was humbled by what was said. The following was the write up supporting the above award:

On the evening of November 22nd, late into my shift, I had a patient come in by ambulance by way of the Emergency Room. The husband soon followed. Since the patient had gone straight back, I had the young man come into my office to begin the registrant's process.

The young man was very distraught over a lot of different issues. He asked to speak to someone who could give him some spiritual guidance. At this point, I asked Don to come down and speak to the young man because he was becoming more and more unwound. He was talking very loudly and using four letter words.

The nurses were afraid of him and did not want him back there with his wife and we had a lot of new mom's and babies on the ward.

The young man and his brother had gotten into a fight and the brother had a broken hand. At this point, the mother of the 2 young men is also here. It was up to me to keep this person from going past the locked doors and to reassure the wife that her husband would soon join her.

At this point, Don came down immediately and began speaking to the young man. For over an hour, Don spoke to the young man and diffused the situation. Once the young man has calmed down, he was able to join his wife. With the presence of Don as a Security Guard, the young man did not cause any more problems and the nurses and I felt safe in allowing him back there with his wife.

While I privately have thanked Don, I would like to recognize him for the actions he took to insure the safety of everyone involved.

I am in the office alone from 3 to 11:30 P.M. and it is extremely important to know that I can rely on these fine men to protect not only me, the Labor and Delivery staff, but most importantly our patients, newborns, moms and dads.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have always prized more for this kind of letter than the awards I was given. In the Army I received more that 21 medals (awards). I was put in for the Legion of Merit, was awarded a number of Bronze Stars, Meritorious Medals, as well as many others, but I really get a lot of satisfaction when recognized for things like the above.

Throughout my career, my Wife has supported me through all the tough situation we have had to navigate around.  The previous award was given to me on Christmas Eve.  The following week, I found out that there was a nurse or nurses who were offended at my celebration of Christmas.

I worked at Seton Hospital on Christmas Day for 12 hours.  As I made my patrols around the hospital, I would try to spread Christmas Cheer.  Now remember, Seton Hospital is suppose to be a "Catholic" hospital.

While at Labor and Delivery, I was singing the "12 Days of Christmas" and talking about the song when a nurse challenged me asking, "Do you really believe that Jesus was born on December 25th?" 

I responded yes, I could prove it through Scripture, Tradition, history, and science.  I did not elaborate this as the nurse then told me that she would talk about it later.

I did not know what she had meant until  yesterday when I was called indicating that I was no longer welcome working at Seton Hospital.  Apparently, I offended this nurse with spreading Christmas cheer.  Can you imagine such a picture? A Security Guard was relieved of duty for spreading Christmas Cheer on Christmas Day? At a "Catholic" hospital? I was told that I attacked their religion by the "12 Days of Christmas".

There is something more sinister here that just this.  The person in charge of the Hospital Human Resource Department I had first met at a local job fair not far from Fort Hood.  Being a Combat Medic for 26 years, I was interested in investigating this job opportunity.  It turned out that at the time there was no place for me so I went looking else where.

I was hired on to a local Security Company through one of my RCIA Candidates and was hired on with them.  Guess where I would end up working? Seton Hospital.   When the Lady saw me she went to the hospital leadership about me.  She literally thought I was stalking her sexually? I was floored by this when my leadership told me of the situation.

Fortunately, the Hospital leadership knew me from Fort Campbell when I worked under General Petreaus.  I was able to work there despite the objection of this Lady.  Well, apparently, Human Resources through the leading Lady, would take this complaint of an Anti-Catholic to pursue her opposition to me.

My wife, through all of this, has been a great blessing.  I never suffered from tension until this latest episode, I began having neck spasms that would nearly floor me. 

It is times like this that I really value my Wife, family, and friends.

I encourage everyone to check out our next radio show as we will cover this event.  People, when they hear about this is really shocked.

My Wife will be giving Seton Hospital  one of the first letters that will be mailed to Seton Hospital.

---

Home page
DTB facebook Page
You Tube
Blog Talk Radio Show