Chaplain Prayer Ban During Ceremonies: Canadian Military Preparing New Policy

A Canadian Armed Forces chaplain conducts a memorial wreath dedication held by members of the United States Coast Guard International Ice Patrol at a Titanic memorial service in Halifax on April 15, 2010. The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan

Canada’s military is preparing a new policy that will dictate what its chaplains are allowed to say, or whether they can lead prayer, during military ceremonies.

The Canadian Armed Forces banned prayers by chaplains in public settings in 2023, replacing them instead with “spiritual reflections,” but committed to creating a new policy following backlash.