Defence Minister Bill Blair says the Conservative Party is spreading “misinformation” by saying military chaplains are no longer allowed to say prayers during public functions.
“Let’s be very clear: [Canadian Forces] chaplains are not – and will not be – banned from prayer on Remembrance Day, nor at any other time,” Mr. Blair wrote on X on Oct. 19.
“When the Conservatives spread misinformation about our military, we’ll always call it out.”
The minister was reacting to an Oct. 18 social media post by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre saying the government is banning military chaplains from praying at Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“Our veterans don’t have a prayer under Trudeau,” Mr. Poilievre said.
The previous directive, in place since 2013 and titled “Public Prayer at Military Ceremonies,” gave guidelines on how chaplains should conduct prayers, while giving further instructions for inclusion.
“The chaplain shall preface the prayer with remarks that invite those who, for whatever reason, are not disposed to pray, to use that time for silent personal reflection or contemplation as others pray,” it reads.
The new directive, titled “Chaplains’ Spiritual Reflection in Public Settings,” doesn’t say that chaplains are allowed to lead prayers, but only “reflections.”
“While the dimension of prayer may occupy a significant place for some of our members, we do not all pray in the same way; for some, prayer does not play a role in their lives,” says the Oct. 11 directive signed by the Chaplain General, Brigadier-General Guy Belisle. “Public reflections must be done in an appropriate manner to engage all those gathered.”
It adds that chaplains need to adopt a “sensitive and inclusive” approach when addressing CAF members in public.
“Chaplains must ensure that all members feel respected and included by undertaking inclusive practices that respect the diversity of beliefs within the CAF,” it says.
Mr. Blair highlighted that point in his statement, saying the “directive is about expanding participation in the reflections of military chaplains – not about limiting it.”
The new directive quotes from a 2015 Supreme Court opinion, which ruled that a city council in Quebec shouldn’t recite a Christian prayer before meetings in order to protect the religious neutrality of the state.
The court “set a strict standard for religious neutrality by the state, which the [Royal Canadian Chaplain Service] has a legal obligation to abide by,” says the directive. “This requirement is aligned with the principle of inclusion that is paramount within the CAF.”
This appears to suggest that the Chaplain Service sees a legal requirement not to have its chaplains engage in religious prayer during ceremonies.
The brigadier general serving as Chaplain General at the time of the 2015 Supreme Court ruling said that the Chaplain Service was studying the implications of the decision, according to an email he sent at the time which was recently seen by The Epoch Times.
“This ruling might have an impact on the public prayers that we offer as military chaplains. In consultation with the office of the Judge Advocate General, my staff is looking at the impact that this ruling might have on our organization or procedures,” wrote then-chaplain general Brig. Gen. John Fletcher on April 23, 2015.
What Defines ‘Prayer’
Conservative shadow minister for veterans affairs Blake Richards first raised the question about banning chaplains from saying prayers on Remembrance Day in the House of Commons on Oct. 18. The parliamentary secretary to the minister of National Defence, Marie-France Lalonde, didn’t answer Mr. Richards’ question, and instead talked about appreciating veterans.Minister Blair made his comments on the issue more than a day after this interaction in the House and Mr. Poilievre’s criticism about the issue on social media.
The government’s line on the issue appears to be centred on what constitutes prayer, even though the new directive uses the term “reflection.”
In an email response to The Epoch Times on Oct. 16, the Department of National Defence (DND) didn’t deny that prayer has been banned for chaplains in official settings.
However, following Mr. Blair’s comment on Oct. 19, DND spokesperson Derek Abma said in an email on Oct. 20 that “chaplains are not banned from prayer on Remembrance Day, or at any other time.”
But he added that chaplains can’t use words such as “God” or “Heavenly Father.”
“In this Directive, the word ‘public’ is used to refer to mandatory military ceremonies. In such ceremonies, chaplains should not use the word ‘God’ or other references to a higher power such as ‘Heavenly Father.’ This is to ensure that all feel included and able to participate in reflection no matter their beliefs,” Mr. Abma said.
An active military chaplain who requested anonymity to avoid reprisals told The Epoch Times that restrictions such as not being able to use the word “God” mean a chaplain’s address can’t be deemed a prayer.
The Epoch Times asked DND why the new directive avoids the use of the word “prayer,” and instead uses “reflection,” and whether it believes prayer can be devoid of religion, but didn’t immediately hear back.
