Liberals deny Remembrance Day ‘prayer ban,’ despite Conservative claim

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Conservatives are blaming the Liberal government for a directive that will once again require military chaplains to tone down religious language when speaking at Remembrance Day ceremonies and other public events.

Conservative MP Chris Warkentin said in question period Friday that the so-called “prayer ban” undercuts the spiritual significance of Remembrance Day for both chaplains and many in the broader military community.

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“Remembrance Day is a time for reflection and healing and hope, and for many veterans praying is part of that journey,” said Warkentin.

He called the directive “draconian.”

Parliamentary secretary for defence, Marie-France Lalonde, was quick to dismiss this accusation, saying Warkentin was both misrepresenting the directive and playing partisan games over a matter that was out of the government’s hands.

“Let’s be absolutely clear,” said Lalonde. “The Chaplain General issued the directive independently, and it does not ban prayer.”

“Actually, the directive simply seeks to help our chaplains make their public addresses more inclusive to reflect the spiritual diversity of Canadians and (Armed Forces) members,” she continued.

Later in the afternoon, Conservative MP Blake Richards, chair of the House veterans’ affairs committee, circulated an open letter calling for an emergency committee meeting to discuss the directive.

Richards called on the Bloc and NDP caucuses to “stand up for our Veterans” in an accompanying social media post.

The new directive was issued to military chaplains last October in response to a major Supreme Court of Canada decision on religious neutrality, swapping out the term “public prayer” with “public reflection.”

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The directive requires chaplains to “carefully choose words that are inclusive” when leading public reflections; further instructing them to “employ a language mindful of the Gender Based Analysis (GBA+) principles, incorporate elements in both official languages, and include the use of local languages when appropriate.”

Chaplains who don’t comply could face “remedial” disciplinary and administrative actions, per the directive’s enforcement provisions.

Chaplain General J.L.G. Bélisle indicated in the directive that the Supreme Court has “strict standard for religious neutrality by the state, which the (military) has a legal obligation to abide by.”

Bélisle nevertheless agreed last November to put a temporary pause on the directive after receiving multiple complaints, meaning that Remembrance Day ceremonies went forward under the old rules.

A committee was subsequently set up to further review the new policy but it has yet to issue any recommendations.

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Defence Minister Bill Blair accused the Conservatives of unfairly attacking Bélisle’s reputation.

“Any suggestion that our Chaplain General banned prayer is disrespectful to the excellent work that our chaplains do in tending to the spiritual well-being of all members of the Canadian Armed Forces,” Blair told National Post.

Royal Canadian Legion spokesperson Nujma Bond also rejected the Conservatives’ characterization of the new policy as a prayer ban.

“While military chaplains are required to modify their language, that decision does not eliminate the inclusion of prayer to God or a higher power by other spiritual representatives at Legion ceremonies,” said Bond in an email.

“Prayer will remain an important part of Remembrance Day ceremonies organized by the Legion, including the one at the National War Memorial.”

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