Bishop Overseeing Military Chaplains Says Prayer Ban is Causing a ‘Vocational Crisis’

Bp. Scott McCaig says there exists ‘significant concern’ that the prayer ban could also undermine morale and spiritual resiliency for ‘scores’ of CAF members.

Father Guy Chapdelaine, then-Chaplain General of the Canadian Armed Forces, greets a veteran at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Nov. 11, 2016. Art Babych/Shutterstock

The bishop in charge of overseeing Catholic military chaplains says some are feeling betrayed after a new directive was issued which bans prayer during official functions.

“I have heard from Catholic chaplains and other members of the Military Ordinariate who are experiencing frustration, a sense of betrayal, and even vocational crisis,” wrote Scott McCaig, bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Canada, in an Oct. 21 statement.