Pastoral care in the armed forces - Active solidarity of the church
with armed forces personnel
Every year a considerable number of men at the liable age for military service - and voluntarily, women as well - do military service. Because the overwhelming majority doing military service belong to one of the two major state churches, these consistently offer pastoral care to members of the forces through priests, vicars and theologians.
Military Chaplain
In this way, the churches fulfil their mission of being particularly close to people where the world is most secular. Through pastoral care in the armed forces the churches support those who operate under difficult conditions in places where it is necessary to protect, rescue and assist in a world that is threatened by injustice, violence, chaos and destruction.
The security policy objectives of the Swiss Confederation are described today as follows: Peace in freedom and independence, maintaining freedom of action, protection of the population and its vital needs, safeguarding national territory, contributing to international stability, especially in Europe. Swiss security policy is guided by the principle of security through co-operation. Consequently, the armed forces have been given special tasks in peace promotion, crisis management, war prevention, defence and civil affairs support. In this environment the military chaplain serves as militia officer as well as special counsellor and representative of his own church.
The security policy objectives of the Swiss Confederation are described today as follows: Peace in freedom and independence, maintaining freedom of action, protection of the population and its vital needs, safeguarding national territory, contributing to international stability, especially in Europe. Swiss security policy is guided by the principle of security through co-operation. Consequently, the armed forces have been given special tasks in peace promotion, crisis management, war prevention, defence and civil affairs support. In this environment the military chaplain serves as militia officer as well as special counsellor and representative of his own church.