Canadian Armed Forces restricts religious language in public spiritual reflections

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has issued new guidance regarding spiritual reflections at public military events, such as parades, ship commissioning ceremonies, and historical commemorations. Under the July 29 instruction, chaplains are permitted to offer “inclusive” spiritual reflections but are prohibited from using “religious specific language,” including references to God.

The policy aims to ensure religious neutrality and respect for the cultural and spiritual diversity of CAF members. While the restrictions do not apply to funerals, voluntary worship services, private counseling, or Indigenous rites, they do apply to all other public military settings.

Religious leaders have criticized the move. Bishop Scott McCaig of the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada described the policy as a form of religious coercion that forces personnel to separate spiritual well-being from the divine. Similarly, Bruce Clemenger of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada stated that the policy restricts spiritual reflection to a “secularist and characteristically humanist expression,” arguing that it mandates a specific view of spirituality by excluding others.