The EFC is deeply concerned over a new Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
policy that forbids military chaplains not only from praying, but from even referring to God or the divine in public spiritual reflections. This impacts chaplains who believe in transcendent reality or a supreme being, as well as those listening to the reflections. It perpetuates a broader trend in Canadian society to exclude religious expression in public spaces.
The policy applies to chaplains speaking at government sponsored events where members of the Canadian Armed Forces are expected or required to attend, government sponsored events and public or semi-public events where chaplains speak in their capacity as CAF members. This includes Remembrance Day ceremonies. The policy specifies that it applies even where prayers and religious observance have been requested – chaplains must instead offer a spiritual reflection that does not include prayer or reference to the divine.
It replaces the practice of offering a preamble to a prayer or spiritual reflection that recognizes the diversity of views among CAF members and others gathered, including those who believe in God and those who don’t. This kind of preamble is now prohibited.
In effect, the new policy requires chaplains to offer a secular and humanist reflection – humanism is grounded in the belief there is no god – regardless of their own religious or spiritual beliefs. Thus, rather than being inclusive, the new practice privileges one understanding of spirituality in public reflections and prohibits all others.
The EFC asks that the policy be rescinded and replaced with a more inclusive approach.