New Directive to Military Chaplains on Prayer

October 27, 2023 Dear Reader,   My name is Tara MacIsaac and I'm a senior reporter for The Epoch Times.   It can be hard to keep up with the news. That's why we created Epoch Weekly Debrief – to give an easy, digestible roundup of 2 to 3 of the most important stories of the week, plus, highlights of other important stories in Canada and around the world.   I welcome you to sign up for our four-week trial, and we'll deliver it to your inbox every Friday. Sign Up Now > Sincerely,   Tara Tara MacIsaac Senior Reporter tara@epochtimes.ca Overview: Prayers at official military events in Canada are now called "reflections" and must not include words such as God, Heavenly Father, or other references to a higher power. The Epoch Times broke the news on this new directive to military chaplains, and Tories have called for an official probe into the matter.    A new report on medical assistance in dying (MAID) shows a 31 percent rise in MAID deaths in one year, as Canada prepares to further expand MAID availability.   New Directive to Military Chaplains on Prayer New Directive to Military Chaplains on Prayer On Oct. 11—a month ahead of Remembrance Day celebrations, which have always included prayers for fallen soldiers—Canada's military chaplains received a new directive regarding prayer.    Previously, chaplains could conduct prayers in line with their faith at official events, including an invitation to non-believers to instead reflect or contemplate.   The new rules: "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)," the directive says. "Chaplains should not use the word 'God' or other references to a higher power such as 'Heavenly Father,'" Department of National Defence spokesperson Derek Abma told The Epoch Times while clarifying and confirming parts of the directive. The new approach is meant to adhere to a 2015 Supreme Court opinion on the religious neutrality of the state, the directive says. That opinion said prayers could not be recited at city council meetings.   Mr. Abma, Defence Minister Bill Blair, and Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor have all denied that prayer is being banned at public events. However, multiple chaplains told The Epoch Times that prayer is effectively banned by the restrictions.   Conservative shadow minister for veterans affairs Blake Richards told Ms.Petitpas her assertion that prayer is not banned is "inaccurate." The exchange occurred during a veterans affairs committee meeting on Oct. 19.    The next day, Mr. Richards put a notice of motion before the committee calling for at least four meetings on the matter of prayer at military events. "This is an affront to religious freedom and is a disgrace to the memory of many of our soldiers who fought for these freedoms," Mr. Richards said.  A Canadian Forces chaplain conducts a memorial wreath dedication held by members of the United States Coast Guard International Ice Patrol at a Titanic memorial service in Halifax on April 15, 2010. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan) Why It Matters: The move comes in the context of greater cultural changes in the Canadian Armed Forces that aim to establish diversity, equity, and inclusion as core principles.    It is part of attempts in Canada and elsewhere to secularize society, a phenomenon explored by multiple Epoch Times columnists, including Dennis Prager.    Columnist David Krayden noted the new directives secularize the concept of prayer itself.    "The government isn't banning prayer if it first redefines prayer so that the concept is virtually meaningless. The new directive … makes it quite clear that prayer is no longer prayer, but only 'reflections,'" he wrote.    The directive was drafted by the Office of the Chaplain General and an email leaked to The Epoch Times shows some of the thinking behind it.   "Public prayer in its traditional form met a need at the time when everyone shared substantially the same faith. This is no longer the case today," Chaplain General Brig.-Gen. Guy Belisle wrote in the email.    A majority of Canadians still identify as being religious, Mr. Richards noted in speaking to the House veterans committee. According to Stats Canada, about 65 percent report a religious affiliation, with 53.3 percent being Christian.    The new directive on prayer touches on questions of how religious Canada remains and how the nation balances religious freedom with Supreme-Court mandated neutrality of state.   What's Next: An Oct. 19 email leaked to The Epoch Times, sent by a mid-level personnel officer, suggests some chaplains are quitting over the directive.   Some chaplains told us they are looking to get out of Remembrance Day celebrations to avoid giving "reflections" not in line with their faith.   It is unclear as of yet when, precisely, any House committee meetings may be held on the matter.    Read more here.      A Rise in MAID A Rise in MAID In 2016, the federal government passed legislation making MAID available to the terminally ill.    In 2021, that expanded to people who aren't terminally ill—including, for example, people with a prolonged, serious illness or disability—provided certain assessment procedures are followed.    In March 2024, Canada is set to expand MAID eligibility to people whose only medical condition is mental illness.    What's New: On Oct. 18, a bill that would have prevented the coming expansion of MAID to the mentally ill narrowly failed a vote in Parliament.    On Oct. 24, Health Canada released its fourth annual report on MAID, looking at the use of MAID in 2022.    Some key findings from the report:  There were 13,241 MAID deaths nationwide, accounting for about 4 percent of all deaths and representing a rise of about 31 percent from the previous year. Quebec had the most, with increases in every province except Manitoba and the Yukon.  463 MAID deaths involved people who were not terminally ill, or whose death was not "reasonably foreseeable."  A 60-year-old woman suffering from cancer rests in a hospital palliative care unit. (Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images) Why It Matters: Canada's relatively unrestricted use of MAID has gained international attention in recent years. It has sparked debate nationally over the existential questions of life and death, and how we care for people who are sick or in need.   That debate has included: To what extent people in need of support—such as better health care or financial assistance—are opting for MAID instead when those supports aren't forthcoming. For example, Veterans Affairs confirmed in March that some veterans were offered MAID "inappropriately." Media reports have also brought to light similar cases. To what extent mental illness alone is a sufficient reason to end one's life.  Whether minors can consent to MAID.  To what extent palliative care should include MAID. We spoke with a palliative care doctor who said MAID often replaces proper end-of-life care. His home province of Quebec has made it mandatory for all palliative care facilities (including religious ones) to offer MAID, following the example of British Columbia.   To what extent MAID guidelines encourage patients to prematurely end their lives to give their organs to loved ones who need them.   What's Next: The start date for expanding MAID to the mentally ill has already been pushed back. It was originally set for March 17 2023, but it is now  March 17, 2024. The timeline was extended, the government said, to allow further consideration on how to implement it and to give clinicians and others more time to prepare.    The next five months or so will show what details of implementation emerge and whether any further attempts may be made to delay or end the expansion.    Read more here. Other Top Stories This Week: Mike Johnson Elected House Speaker, Ending 22 Days of Paralysis   The new speaker faces the daunting task of keeping the fractious Republican majority united through a series of near-immediate decisions.  Read More > ANALYSIS: Bank of Canada Points to Why US Is Outperforming Canada Currently   The Bank of Canada held its target interest rate at 5 percent while giving a sombre outlook for the Canadian economy.  Read More > Where the Lich, Barber Trial Stands After 7 Weeks   Crown prosecutors are still trying to establish that Ms. Lich and Mr. Barber had 'control and influence' over protesters in downtown Ottawa.  Read More > Behind a Secret Chinese Biolab in California, a Global Web of Connections   Chinese companies related to the biolab have a troubling history in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and a handful of other countries.  Read More > 'Pervasive and Aggressive': Beijing's Interference and Repression of Falun Gong Escalate in Canada   A comprehensive report details the Chinese regime's 24-year foreign interference and extension of its repression of Falun Gong to Canada.  Read More > Share your thoughts   We may feature an excerpt of your response in a future newsletter. What do you think of our picks for The Epoch Weekly Debrief this week? We'd love to hear from you. You can email me at tara@epochtimes.ca.   If you enjoy what you're reading, please consider forwarding this email to someone who might find it informative. See more breaking news   Epoch Times Received this email from a friend?   Subscribe Trouble viewing this email?   View in browser See more breaking news   Epoch Times Got this email from a friend?   Subscribe Trouble viewing?   View in browser Thanks for reading the Epoch Times!   Don't want to miss out on important emails from us? Be sure to add newsletter@epochtimes.ca to your contact list.   About this newsletter   You asked, and we listened! Readers found it hard to keep up with the news, so they requested an easy, digestible roundup of the top stories of the week. That's how the Epoch Weekly Debrief was created. Join senior reporter Tara MacIsaac as she breaks down 2-3 major headlines every Friday. 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