Two essentials — prayer and religious symbols — that connect people to the higher power they choose to worship are banned at official Canadian Armed Forces ceremonies.That includes Remembrance Day ceremonies honouring all who died in Canadian uniforms fighting tyrants to protect religious freedoms now being denied.This spits on their graves.It spits in the faces of Canadians of diverse faiths who believe in a higher power and want to publicly say a prayerful thank you.But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government appointed itself the highest power by dictating what’s allowed said and seen at public military ceremonies.Political fingerprints are all over this. But the Liberals are trying to deny it is what it is.The CAF’s top ‘spiritual’ leader heartily and obediently supported the crackdown in a sinister memo that threatens those he was given the privilege of commanding with “disciplinary action.”Chaplain General Brig.-Gen. Guy Belisle’s leaked directive sent on October 11 to all CAF chaplains clearly ordered them not to pray according to their faiths at “ceremony/parade/gathering addresses.”Defence Minister Bill Blair apparently didn’t read the memo. If he had, would he have stooped to whitewash what Belisle wrote?Blair blamed the Conservatives for spreading “misinformation.”“Let’s be very clear: @CanadianForces chaplains are — not and will not be – banned from prayer on Remembrance Day nor at any other time,” he posted on Twitter (“X”) Thursday.“The Chaplain General’s directive seeks to ensure that public addresses reflect the spiritual and religious diversity of Canadians,” said Blair in a manoeuvre around the truth.Not all Canadians. This inclusion excludes Christians, Jews, Muslims and those of other faiths.Worshipping “nature” is OK. Mention Jesus and be stripped of your mandate for being blasphemers of woke!Disobeying the Liberal’s diversity, equity and inclusion mandates can destroy careers.Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called Blair out.“Trudeau minister flip flops after leaked memo exposes their plan to ban prayer at Remembrance Day ceremonies. Let’s welcome prayer from all groups instead of getting rid of it altogether,” he tweeted on “X.”Crushing expression of religious freedom by trying to force Canadians to kneel at the altar of woke is justified as “sensitive and inclusive.” A suspicious mind wonders if this is an effort to purge the CAF of devout chaplains, like it relentlessly did with members who refused the COVID-19 mandates on religious grounds — with Belisle’s blessing and enforcement.Belisle was appointed May 2021.“I look forward to leading a team of chaplains who can provide religious and spiritual support and guidance in these most challenging of times to CAF members and their families,” said Belisle at the time.Hey padre, haven’t you noticed the current ‘challenging’ times? The Middle East is exploding as are other pockets around the globe. Canadian streets are glutted with mobs of angry protesters. Hurting, frightened people seek hope. This is a bad time to muzzle chaplains who give believers strength and promote unity.Prayers at traditional Remembrance Day ceremonies inject hope and remind that Canadian blood is brave and overcomes adversity. The evidence lies in the graves filled with our soldiers that you are disrespecting.Belisle grievously betrayed his ‘team’ — and living members who served and still serve — by opting to oblige his political masters over whatever god he worships beyond his title and rank.Belisle’s name’s at the bottom of the directive. Belisle abandoned his ‘team.’ There’s no honour in that.Reading passages from the Bible, Torah or Koran — forbidden! Chaplains may not wear or display a Christian cross, a Jewish star of David, or a Muslim crescent. Only scarves bearing the Royal Canadian Chaplain Services (RCCS) crest may be worn. That crest is now a stained symbol of oppression.How is it different from the old hammer & sickle emblem of Soviet state enforced anti-religion policies? Or the red star in North Korea where unauthorized religion is illegal?If the federal government gets away with this what’s next? Jailing pastors? Oh wait, that already happened under COVID-19 tyranny.Smuggling Bibles into Canada in covert ops like believers in other countries do now? Farfetched? Well people of faith in multiple countries including Iran didn’t think it could happen — until it happened. This is a slippery slope. Because of the intentionally vague language — other than the punishment part — chaplains conducting Remembrance Day ceremonies must be extremely cautious. Someone will be waiting to pounce, offended by a word spoken that didn’t meet Belisle’s vague “carefully inclusive” directive.What did Belisle say that Blair claimed he didn’t say in the new policy?“While the dimension of prayer may occupy a significant place for some of our members, we do not all pray in the same way; for some, prayer does not play a role in their lives.”“Therefore, it is essential for chaplains to adopt a sensitive and inclusive approach when publicly addressing military members. Chaplains must ensure that all members feel respected and included by undertaking inclusive practices that respect the diversity of beliefs within the CAF.”He hid behind a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that a “set strict standard for religious neutrality by the state.”“The reflection must ensure that attendees are reasonably able to identify with the words being uttered. Chaplains shall endeavour to ensure that all feel included and able to participate in the reflection with a clear conscience, no matter their beliefs (religious, spiritual, agnostic, atheist).”Spirituality is a “means through which it is possible to connect to oneself, nature and the world, to others, privately or within a community,” he wrote.“Replace prayer with ‘thoughts on Canadian or CAF values; a search for meaning and belonging; an insight or wisdom; or words of thanksgiving, recognition, hope, or remembrance.”“Carefully choose words to “employ a language mindful of the Gender Based Analysis (GBA+) principles.”Chaplain scarves “may cause discomfort or traumatic feelings.”“To visibly demonstrate our commitment to state religious neutrality, the RCChS will replace the current chaplain scarves with a scarf bearing the crest of the RCChS in place of the Faith Tradition crests. The RCChS crest is a common and inclusive spiritual symbol.”The plan to shut chaplains up is only beginning. Belisle supports brainwashing, sorry, educating newcomers.“The Canadian Forces Chaplain School and Centre (CFChSC) will play a key role in integrating this new directive on spiritual reflection into all courses offered to chaplains during their career.”Belisle might have taken the job to enforce this travesty. It’s not why the chaplains he’s betraying signed on.
