A Conservative motion to study the military’s decision to prevent chaplains from leading prayers during public functions has been rejected by other parties.
“I find this unacceptable,” said Bloc Québécois MP Luc Désilets in response to the motion presented at the Veterans Affairs committee on Oct. 24.
“I have a lot of respect for chaplains, but I’m going to vote against the motion because it’s not related to Veterans Affairs—the Canadian Armed Forces are responsible.”
Mr. Désilets and other MPs were displeased the motion was tabled during a committee meeting with women veterans testifying on their experiences. Liberal, Bloc, and NDP MPs all voted against the motion.
The Chaplain General says the military must abide by the principle of state neutrality in religious affairs and that chaplains must adopt a “sensitive and inclusive approach when publicly addressing military members.”
A Department of National Defence (DND) spokesperson has told The Epoch Times the directive effectively prohibits chaplains from using the words “God” or “Heavenly Father” during public functions.
After tabling his motion, Mr. Richards quoted from the poem “In Flanders Field,” which mentions crosses, and the Canadian anthem, which says “God keep our land.” He asked whether those would be banned too during Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“There is no greater part of our remembrance, no greater part of our reflection on all the service and sacrifice of our veterans than our Remembrance Day ceremonies, and if they are going to be diminished in such a way, I think it’s incumbent upon all of us here to ensure that we review this situation,” said Mr. Richards.
Ministers have said that chaplains can still pray on Remembrance Day, but the directive prohibits them from doing so in an official capacity.
The previous directive allowed chaplains to recite an inclusive prayer, but would do so after saying a preamble inviting non-believers to take the moment to reflect or contemplate. This has been completely removed from the directive.
“There exists significant concern that this policy may have the unfortunate effects of undermining the morale and spiritual resiliency of scores of Canadian Forces members and their families, significantly diminishing the efficacy of chaplains, and even threaten the viability of the Royal Canadian Chaplains Service itself,” the statement says.
