Letter to Defence Minister on spiritual reflections policy

The Hon. David McGuinty

Minister of National Defence

101 Colonel By Drive

Ottawa ON  K1A 0K2

Dear Minister McGuinty,

The EFC is deeply concerned by the recently released Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instructions 03/26 – Spiritual reflections in military settings. 

This new policy forbids military chaplains from not only praying, but from using words, actions or symbols tied to a specific religious or faith tradition or making any reference to God or the divine in public spiritual reflections.

By prohibiting reference to God, the divine or a supreme being, the policy expresses a worldview devoid of the transcendent; one that is secularist and characteristically humanist. We note that the military has humanist chaplains, and humanism is recognized as one of the spiritual and faith traditions served by the Royal Canadian Chaplaincy Service. It is one belief system among many.

Rather than taking a non-preferential and pluralistic approach, this policy favours and mandates one view of spirituality and religion to the exclusion of others.

Forbidding even a reference to the divine or the transcendent in spiritual reflections is not an expression of inclusive neutrality. An inclusive neutrality is one that shows openness to a diversity of spiritual and faith traditions.

A more inclusive approach for all would allow both prayer and spiritual reflection. This approach could include a preamble acknowledging that members of the audience hold diverse beliefs – including religious and non-religious convictions – before prayer and spiritual reflection, offered rotationally by chaplains representing various spiritual and faith traditions.

 We urge you to put in place a chaplaincy policy that supports the spiritual health of all Canadian Armed Forces members -- one that recognizes and makes room for all in the expression of belief in spiritual reflections. There must be a principled accommodation of the diverse beliefs of Canadians, including those who believe in God.

 We ask that you rescind this new policy and replace it with a more inclusive approach.

Sincerely,

Julia Beazley

Director, Centre for Faith & Public Life

Author: Julia Beazley