Catholic bishop condemns prayer ban for military events in Canada
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The Canadian Armed Forces issued new rules in July that ban chaplains from invoking God or using ‘religious specific language’ at public military gatherings.
(LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Scott McCaig of the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada is speaking out against a new Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) policy banning prayer and invoking God at military events, condemning it as a form of religious coercion.
On July 29, the CAF issued a new guidance on “spiritual reflections in military settings,” defined as “inclusive public addresses” that foster “meaning, purpose, and spiritual well-being.” They are not to “use religious specific language, including references to God, etc.,” but rather “reflect upon lessons learned, beliefs, values, and experiences to inspire gratitude, remembrance, hope, and integrity,” grounded in “respect for freedom of conscience and religious expression, while upholding the dignity and value of diverse spiritual traditions.” It contains exceptions for funerals, voluntary religious gatherings, private counseling, and indigenous practices.
The Epoch Times reports that Bishop McCaig, who oversees Catholic ministry within the military, issued a stirring rebuke of the new rules on August 10.
“For a great many people, chaplains and members alike, one cannot separate ‘meaning, purpose, and spiritual well being’ from ‘God, etc.’ Yet they are required by this instruction to do precisely that,” he wrote. “They are required to do so despite it being contrary to sincerely held beliefs and the conviction of conscience. Is this not precisely the kind of coercion that the Charter is meant to protect us from?”
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms affirms that “everyone” has “fundamental freedoms” of “conscience and religion”; “thought, belief, opinion and expression”; “peaceful assembly”; and “association,” all of which are imperiled by restrictions on religious gathering and expression.
“This instruction is based on a false premise: simply because some belief systems do not profess the existence of God, or some other divine source, does not make them neutral,” Bishop McCaig continued. “There is no such thing as reflections on meaning, purpose and spiritual well being without philosophical and religious presuppositions. It is not the place of the government to adjudicate between them. That is the opposite of state neutrality.”
This is far from the first attempt to suppress religious expression within Canada’s armed forces.
LifeSiteNews reported last September that the CAF issued to chaplains a directive ahead of last year’s Remembrance Day to “avoid SFT-specific (Spiritual / Faith Tradition) words, actions and symbols, including metaphysical references,” in their prayers at holiday events.
In 2024, the CAF banned prayer at all Remembrance Day celebrations, prompting outcry from citizens, military members, and political figures. In 2023, the CAF issued a directive placing harsh restrictions on public prayer, though it was rescinded after public and military backlash.