Military expands prayer ban, strips references to God from official ceremonies
New directive replaces prayers with “spiritual reflections” at official military events as Conservatives warn of an attack on religious freedom.
The Canadian Armed Forces has expanded its restrictions on public prayer, barring chaplains and anyone providing spiritual services at official military ceremonies from using faith-specific language—including references to God—in a move critics say amounts to an attack on religious freedom.
The new directive, issued July 29, extends rules that previously applied only to military chaplains to all CAF members, Department of National Defence employees, contractors and volunteers providing spiritual or religious services for the military.
