Canada’s Catholic military bishop is questioning how meaningful the consultation was behind a new Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) policy restricting faith-specific prayer at official ceremonies, despite Department of National Defence (DND) assurances that religious advisers had several opportunities to provide feedback.

Bishop Scott McCaig of the Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada said members of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC) expected to help shape the new instruction. The committee represents participating faith traditions in their dealings with the Armed Forces on military chaplaincy matters. McCaig is a voting member representing the Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate.

At the committee’s first consultation meeting about the instruction, however, McCaig said it became clear that the policy had already been largely decided and members were being asked mainly to help with “word-crafting” and “final touches,” he told Canadian Catholic News in an interview Aug. 4.

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“There are a number of us who are very concerned about the lack of consultation,” he said.

CCN reported earlier this week that the July 29, 2026, instruction requires chaplains to replace requested prayers or religious observances at official events where attendance is expected or required with “spiritual reflections” that cannot include faith-specific language or references to God.

The instruction applies to events including graduation parades, change-of-command ceremonies, ship commissionings, honours ceremonies, mess dinners and Remembrance Day commemorations.

The restrictions do not apply to voluntary worship, private counselling, pastoral care, faith-specific gatherings, religious rites or military funerals.

The DND told CCN Aug. 4 that committee members “were provided opportunities to offer feedback at several points during the development of the policy.”

A spokesman said, “Consultations were conducted with stakeholders internal and external to the CAF, including chaplains and the ICCMC,” but added that the committee “does not approve or endorse CAF policy instruments.”

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The DND said the Military Personnel Command policy team developed the instruction with the Office of the Chaplain General. The Chief of Military Personnel approved it, and the defence minister’s office “was informed of its approval and publication.”

The department said the policy is intended to guide official public speech at military ceremonies where members are required or expected to attend and speakers are acting as representatives of the Armed Forces rather than in a personal capacity.

A replacement for the 2023 directive had been expected since the public outcry that followed its release, including opposition from members of the interfaith committee.

“It has been in the pot brewing for a couple of years,” McCaig said.

After controversy erupted in 2023, Chaplain General Guy Bélisle gave chaplains temporary leeway for Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2023 while the directive was reviewed.

Then-defence minister Bill Blair later told the House of Commons Veterans Affairs Committee that the directive “in no way bans prayer” and said prayer remained “an important part” of Remembrance Day ceremonies.

On Nov. 8, 2024, the House unanimously called on the government to confirm that military chaplains could offer denominational prayers publicly without facing disciplinary or administrative action.

The new instruction broadens the approach introduced in 2023. It applies not only to chaplains but to all Armed Forces members and sets expectations for non-military personnel supporting the Forces, including employees, volunteers, students, casual workers and contractors involved in providing spiritual or religious services.

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DND told CCN the instruction provides “greater clarity and consistency” and helps commanders and the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service serve “today’s diverse military community.”

A group of interfaith committee members is now preparing a joint response to the new instruction. It will be circulated to other committee members, who will decide whether to add their names. “We don’t want to rush this,” McCaig said. “We want to get it right and have a proper response because there’s a lot at stake.”