Catholic conscientious objector found guilty of lesser charge.(USA)(Stephen Funk)(Brief Article) From: National Catholic Reporter | Date: September 19, 2003 | COPYRIGHT 2003 National Catholic Reporter. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

NEW ORLEANS -- A military tribunal Sept. 6 found 21-year-old Marine Corps reservist Stephen Funk (NCR, June 6) guilty of unauthorized absence but not guilty of desertion with intent to shirk important duty. He was given a six-month jail sentence to be followed by a bad conduct discharge.

Funk had left his unit in San Jose, Calif., last February, shortly before it was activated, according to his attorney Stephen Collier. Forty-seven days later, Funk, who is Catholic, publ...