Dear Friend,
With Remembrance Day fast approaching, I thought it would be timely to draw your attention to a matter that is deeply concerning.
The EFC is objecting to a new policy that forbids military personnel, including chaplains, not only from praying, but also from using any religious words, actions or symbols at public events or where members of the Canadian Armed Forces are expected or required to attend.
This policy would affect Remembrance Day ceremonies, where chaplains are often asked to offer a prayer or words of solace as Canadians gather to honour those who have served or are serving, remember the fallen, comfort the grieving, and to pray for peace among nations.
Until recently, chaplains were allowed to say prayers at public events. They would begin with a preamble acknowledging the variety of beliefs held by those present and inviting people to reflect or pray in whatever way they felt comfortable. But both the preamble and prayers have been banned.
The new policy goes even further, forbidding military chaplains from even mentioning God or the divine in public ceremonies. Instead, they are now required to lead people through a general time of silent reflection or meditation.
The irony, of course, is that our national anthem contains references to God as well as the cross – whether in English, with “God keep our land glorious and free,” or in French, with “porter la croix” (carry the cross). And our Royal Anthem, “God Save the King,” is itself a prayer. These are both integral parts of Remembrance Day ceremonies.
What’s happening is that chaplains are being muzzled at public events. Christian chaplains are being compelled to keep their faith and the reason for their hope hidden under a bushel basket (Matthew 5:15). Bruce Clemenger, president emeritus of the EFC and a member of the Interfaith Committee for Canadian Military Chaplaincy, has likened this policy to a “kind of a secular gag order.”
The policy assumes that a secular spiritual reflection is neutral because it does not favour any particular worldview or faith tradition. In practice, however, it favours and mandates an essentially humanist worldview, to the exclusion of all others—contradicting its own rationale.
If the government’s goal is to maintain religious neutrality – where religious freedom is protected for all, and no one view is favoured or privileged over others – then this policy must be challenged.
And if the government’s goal is to make public events more inclusive, they should recognize and make room for everyone’s expression of belief. They could allow for both prayers and spiritual reflections, or have prayers and reflections offered rotationally by chaplains representing various spiritual faith traditions. And they could reintroduce the use of the preamble that recognizes the diversity of beliefs present.
Chaplains are not generic spiritual counsellors, wellness coaches, or motivational speakers that merely fill ceremonial slots at public events. They are representatives of particular faith traditions who are called to minister to those of like faith while also caring for all military members and their families seeking spiritual care.
Chaplains are tasked with fostering “meaning, purpose, and spiritual well-being” at public events, but are now being told to refrain from using the very language of their faith while doing so. Many chaplains can’t separate meaning, purpose, and spiritual well-being from God. It should surprise no one that a Christian chaplain will speak of Christian things. What should be surprising is when a Christian chaplain does not bring up God at all!
Chaplains should not be asked to offer spiritual reflections and then be told not to even mention God. Religious words and prayers offer solace to those who put their trust in God; others listening are not compelled to participate or affirm. Chaplains should not be forbidden to reference their faith in order to participate in public ceremonies.
This matter has not been given much media coverage. Given little chance to question and challenge the new chaplaincy policy, it has largely been ignored and effectively dismissed by the general public as unimportant and not worthy of attention. But the lack of response does not mean endorsement.
That’s why the EFC is speaking up. This policy, introduced in the name of inclusion, is far from inclusive. The EFC has already sent a letter to the Minister of Defence, urging him to rescind the new policy and asking him to replace the policy with a more inclusive approach.
Will you partner with us in prayer and with a gift of financial support as we work to oppose this and all other attempts to remove the expression of faith from the public square? Thank you for standing with us.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Guretzki
President & CEO