Military

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.

Many have been shocked and dismayed by the new Canadian Forces General Instruction from the Commander of Military Personnel decreeing a “spiritual neutrality” upon all Canadian Armed Forces Chaplains.

A new Canadian Armed Forces policy that bars military chaplains from offering faith-specific prayers at official events with mandatory personnel attendance is drawing a response from military faith advisers as well as calls in Ottawa for its reversal.

“God etc.” In that two-word nutshell, the current federal government has expressed the fullness of its utter contempt for religious faith and religious believers. 

Thanking members of the military and the police for their service, Pope Francis asked them to be on guard against seeing other people as enemies and instead dedicate their lives to defending life, peace and justice.