(LifeSiteNews) — The Canadian military is preparing chaplains for further restrictions on prayer ahead of Remembrance Day.
According to internal documents shared with LifeSiteNews, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) issued an aide memoire to chaplains to help them put the upcoming directive, expected to restrict prayer at Remembrance Day celebrations, into practice.
“The intention of public reflection is to be inclusive, accessible and respectful,” the directive begins. “Welcome all people, whatever their beliefs, origins or background, with accessible and respectful language.”
The mandates further instruct chaplains to “avoid SFT-specific (Spiritual / Faith Tradition) words, actions and symbols, including metaphysical references.”
Instead, they are encouraged to “adopt language without explicit religious connotations to respect the plurality of convictions. Understand language boundaries. In the context of military ceremonies, the principle of religious neutrality applies.”
The military member who shared the memo with LifeSiteNews warned that it is the first step in banning prayer at upcoming Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“If you look at our Charter, it’s clear that our rights and freedoms come from God, not from the state,” the CAF member explained. “For the state to slow march us into this digital technocracy, they have to erase God.”
“When I was a child, we said the Lord’s prayer in public school … look how far we’ve come!” he recalled. “For us to understand the significance of this new prayer policy, we have to step back and look at the broader agenda unfolding. It’s an attack on what it means to be human.”
The document comes a few months before military chaplains will lead public prayers in celebration of Remembrance Day on November 11. For the past couple of years, the CAF has cracked down on military prayer ahead of this holiday.
In 2024, the CAF banned prayer at all Remembrance Day celebrations, prompting outcry from Canadians, military members, and political figures.
At the time, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre denounced the move, saying, ” Canadians should be free to practise their faith alongside fellow Canadians as we commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifices for our freedoms. Common sense not woke nonsense.”
Additionally, in 2023, the CAF issued a directive placing harsh restrictions on public prayer. However, the orders were rescinded after backlash from Canadians, including many CAF members.
