The U.S. Army moved forward with a decision to cancel all religious support contracts for Army chapels, drawing criticism and possible legal action from the Catholic Church.

“In canceling these contracts, the Army over-burdens Catholic chaplains, harms chapel communities, and impedes the constitutional guarantee of the free exercise of religion, especially for Catholics,” wrote Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy P. Broglio. “The cancellation of chapel contracts may appear to be a neutral elimination of chapel support, which itself affects the free exercise of religion for all soldiers.”