editorial: say a little prayer for our woke military brass
2 minute read
we apologize, but this video has failed to load.
try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
see more toronto sun on google — save as a preferred source
congratulations to top brass in the canadian armed forces (caf). if their mission was to insult every person of faith in this country, then mission accomplished. their recent directive prohibiting caf chaplains from invoking god in military services sounds like a soviet-era diktat in the atheist communist bloc.
as postmedia reporter bryan passifiume reported this week, the directive removes religion from military ceremonies and replaces it with meaningless pap.
under military personnel instructions 03/26, “spiritual reflections in military settings,” issued july 29, military members and chaplains delivering public remarks now must refrain from using faith-specific words, rituals or symbols. why not ditch chaplains altogether and hire motivational speakers?
future remembrance day ceremonies cannot use traditional hymns, o god our help in ages past or for those in peril on the sea. some woke bureaucrat has decided the sacrifice of canadians who gave their lives in service of their king, their country and their god can no longer be celebrated as they would have wanted.
chaplains have also been directed to shed religious items of clothing, such as stoles, and no longer request congregations to remove their hats during these agnostic “reflections.”
the only faith groups allowed to continue to incorporate their ceremonies in military ceremonies are indigenous ones. that, surely, runs counter to the charter of rights and freedoms, which grants equality to all faiths. the directive says this is being done in the name of reconciliation.
“this approach reflects canada’s constitutional recognition of indigenous rights, the historical suppression of indigenous traditions by the state, and an ongoing commitment to reconciliation,” the directive says.
advertisement
it’s more likely this will create resentment and two tiers of faith-based citizens. some have more rights than others. presumably, also, if a pro-hamas group decides to pray in the middle of a remembrance day celebration, that will also be accommodated under canada’s newly redrawn description of “freedom of religion.”
if the military truly wants to encourage inclusion, it should ensure that ceremonies include elements from all faiths. this edict favours atheism over religion. it minimizes the moving elements of remembrance day ceremonies.
military chaplains have a long and storied history of courageous service to the spiritual needs of those serving on the frontlines. this directive is an affront to their legacy.
recommended video
share story
