On Remembrance Day, Canada asks us to honour those who gave their lives. At certain military ceremonies, it asks the chaplain to leave God out of the words spoken over their memory.
That is the effect of the Canadian Armed Forces instruction issued July 29, 2026. When a prayer is requested at an official commemoration where military personnel are expected or required to attend, the chaplain must offer a “spiritual reflection” instead. The instruction rules out even a reference to God. It specifically names Remembrance Day. Read the Canadian Armed Forces instruction.
The military calls this religious neutrality. But surely a Canadian can stand respectfully while a chaplain prays, just as a Christian can stand respectfully while someone of another faith speaks. Why does making room for everyone require the chaplain to leave God unmentioned and dare not utter the Name of Jesus the Christ? Since it's foundation honor and place have always been given to Jesus the Christ with that honor being carved in stone on Parliament Hill. With that Name being the ONLY God praised when opening Parliament until recent years. So as not to offend other people's faith, we have taken the posture of not caring to offend God Almighty.
By the end of the Second World War, 434,000 New Testaments had been distributed to Canada’s military. Today, at certain official Remembrance Day ceremonies, a military chaplain asked to pray must instead give a reflection that leaves out even a reference to God.
To me, this is one more way Canada is turning its back on Christianity in its military and everyday life. As a Christian, I honour the men and women who gave their lives, and I thank God for the victory they fought to secure.
At the cenotaph, there ought to be room for both.
Comments
Post a Comment
Pending moderation, your comment will be published. Thank You