Conservatives are asking a parliamentary committee to study an Armed Forces’ directive ordering military chaplains to abstain from leading public prayer.
Conservatives are asking a House of Commons committee to study the Canadian Armed Forces’ new directive to military chaplains to refrain from leading prayer during public functions.
Conservative MP Blake Richards put a notice of motion before the House veterans affairs committee on Oct. 20, following exclusive reporting by The Epoch Times on the new directive.
“The Liberal government is banning chaplains from praying for our soldiers who fought for Canada this coming Remembrance Day,” Mr. Richards
wrote on social media. Mr. Richards is his party’s critic for veterans affairs.
“This is an affront to religious freedom and is a disgrace to the memory of many of our soldiers who fought for these freedoms,” he added.
Mr. Richards’ motion calls for the veterans affairs committee to conduct no fewer than four meetings on the matter. The committee is currently studying the experience of female veterans in the armed forces and the
next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 24.
The Office of the Chaplain General released its
new directive on Oct. 11, one month before Remembrance Day, one of the most important military ceremonies of the year.
Prior to the new directive, military chaplains could lead inclusive prayers during such public functions, while inviting non-believers to reflect or contemplate. Prayer has now been removed and replaced by “spiritual reflections.”
The directive pertains specifically to what chaplains are allowed to say during official functions. The Department of National Defence has
confirmed to The Epoch Times that chaplains are not allowed to say the words “God” or “Heavenly Father” during the reflections.
“This is to ensure that all feel included and able to participate in reflection no matter their beliefs,” said spokesperson Derek Abma.
It has not been established so far that the directive was changed at the behest of the Liberal government, but the move is part of the government’s broader attempt to change the culture of the military along the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion framework.
One chaplain, who agreed to speak to The Epoch Times on the condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, said the decision to remove prayer was entirely the doing of the Office of the Chaplain General.
The new policy is “self-imposed,” he said. “We didn’t have to make this change. We already had a very inclusive and robust policy on public prayer ... But the Chaplain General’s Office wanted this change.”
‘Prayer is Allowed’
Mr. Richards asked Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor why the new directive had been put in place during her appearance at committee on Oct. 19.“I want to be very, very clear: there has been no directive that no prayer is allowed at Remembrance Day services,” said the minister.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but that is in fact inaccurate,” replied Mr. Richards, who said he would table the Oct. 11 directive in committee.
“To be able to tell people that they wouldn’t be able to engage in that activity at a public ceremony that honours our soldiers is sad.”
Mr. Richards noted in his remarks that a majority of Canadians identify as being religious.
Data released by Statistics Canada in 2022 shows that 65.4 percent of Canadians have a religious affiliation, with 53.3 percent of the population reporting being Christian.
Three active chaplains have told The Epoch Times the directive, which has reportedly sown consternation in the ranks, is being interpreted as a prayer ban. An internal military
email obtained by The Epoch Times indicates some chaplains are leaving the forces as a result.
Some chaplains have also
told this publication that they are discussing among themselves how to skip participating in Remembrance Day ceremonies so as to avoid having to say a reflection not linked to their faith.
