A report from the federal government’s National Defence Advisory Panel has recommended the Defence Minister “redefine” its military’s chaplaincy services to prohibit religions that don’t support LGBTQ2+ and “gender equality” agendas..The January report addressed to Minister of National Defence Anita Anand, says because the Canadian “Defence Team” and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are committed to “equality and inclusivity,” it is “inconsistent” to continue employing “chaplaincy applicants affiliated with religious groups whose values are not aligned with those of the Defence Team.”.The report did not list which religions its authors deemed objectionable..The advisory panel recommended the work to compile relevant recommendations and assess progress toward goals remain a high priority..The report justified its recommendations by using examples of what the panel deemed as prejudice-based ideology inherent in certain religions..“Some churches’ exclusion of women from their priesthoods violates principles of equality and social justice,” the report said..It also stated that “religion can be source of suffering and generational trauma,” especially for “many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirited members of Canadian society.”.The panel used other examples to highlight what it described as unacceptable practices..“In addition, certain faiths have strict tenets requiring conversion of those they deem to be ‘pagan,’ or who belong to polytheistic religions. These faiths’ dogmas and practices conflict with the commitment of the Defence Team to value equality and inclusivity at every level of the workplace,” the Panel said..“If the defence team rejects gender discrimination, anti-indigenous discrimination, and racialized discrimination in every other area and is working hard to remove systemic barriers to the employment of marginalized people, it cannot justify hiring representatives of organizations who marginalize certain people or categorically refuse them a position of leadership,” the official report said..The panels recommendations were listed in the report:.Do not consider for employment as spiritual guides or multi-faith representatives Chaplaincy applicants affiliated with religious groups whose values are not aligned with those of the Defence Team. The Defence Team’s message, otherwise, is inconsistent.Select chaplains representative of many faiths including forms of spirituality beyond the Abrahamic faiths.Review the selection process for chaplains to ensure that, in addition to listening skills, empathy and emotional intelligence, there is an intrinsic appreciation for diversity and a willingness to challenge one’s beliefs.Find ways to grant educational equivalencies, for example to knowledge keepers, rather than strictly adhering to the prerequisite that all chaplains must have a master’s degree..The report urged the military to review its policies on the employment and deployment of unfit and injured soldiers citing the military’s “soldier first” rule. The advisory panel was told by the chief of Military Personnel that reviewing this policy was not “on the table” at present..The report said that “Indigenous Peoples have suffered unimaginable generational trauma and genocide at the hands of Christian religious leaders.” It refrained from naming Christianity and more specifically, Catholicism, as examples of religions that have been criticized for rejecting homosexuality, paganism, and women as priests, and would therefore be considered by the panel as inappropriate for chaplaincy personnel..It is possible the panel’s recommendations will meet with opposition from some members of the public and serving military personnel since the recommendations could be said to be in contravention of Canadians’ religious rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act. .Amanda Brown is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.abrown@westernstandard.news.,.Twitter: @WS_JournoAmanda
