What’s All the Noise and Different Claims on Remembrance Day Military Prayer Ban About

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre raised objection this week that military chaplains “are banned from prayers at Remembrance Day ceremonies.” Defence Minister Bill Blair in turn said that the military Chaplain General “never did ban prayer.” While with the different claims it may be confusing what has changed with the Chaplain General’s new directive issued last year, it takes paying attention to the words used by the politicians as well as the military chaplaincy command to understand what has changed, what is now forbidden, and what is now allowed by the military. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Legion, which organizes the National Remembrance Day ceremony, as well as many others across the country, has issued its own statement on the mater....