Walter Reed awarded the contract to Mack Global LLC, a government contractor that bills itself as “providing a diverse range of services and products to government agencies and private companies.” The decision drew the ire of both the archdiocese and politicians alike. …

Walter Reed said the hospital can continue to provide Catholic pastoral services without a contract, as there is an assigned active-duty Army Catholic priest in its Department of Pastoral Care, who currently provides services that include pastoral counseling and Sacramental Rites. The hospital added that it is also a part of the National Capital Region Health Market and, therefore, can leverage Catholic priests assigned to other defense organizations within the region. …

The archdiocese, however, claims that the chaplain is in the process of separating from the Army. It is unclear why the archdiocese only has one chaplain assigned to the hospital, and if it plans to, or even can appoint more priests to the role.

[This apparently depends on how one defines “services.” Mack Global does not have Catholic priests in its organization, which means that Catholic patients do not have access to the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and confession. Having only one Catholic priest in chaplaincy at a hospital is already insufficient given its size, and if that priest is leaving, then the number will soon be zero. — Ed]