Walter Reed 'cease and desist' order for Catholic priests violates the First Amendment, GOP lawmakers say

EXCLUSIVE: Two dozen Republican lawmakers are demanding answers from the Pentagon after Walter Reed National Military Medical Center sent a “cease and desist" letter to Catholic priests to stop providing care during Holy Week, slamming the move as a violation of the First Amendment.

"Last week, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter to Holy Name College Friary, a group of Catholic priests, ordering them to stop providing pastoral care at their facility," the letter reads. "The same group of priests have served at Walter Reed for almost 20 years, and this order came days before Easter."

"Forcing priests to stop providing care during Holy Week is not only morally wrong, but also a violation of the First Amendment," they wrote.