March 31, 2026
TO: Provincial Presidents and Secretaries
CC: National Officers (for information)
National Life Member Liaison
FROM: Jessie Parkinson, National Chairperson of Social Justice
Please forward this message to chairpersons of social justice.
In August 2025, at the national convention, members adopted Resolution 2025.03 Strengthen Support for Chaplains to Provide Faith-Based Care to Members and Families of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Action Plan asks all councils and members to write to their members of parliament on this issue. Please review the information below and share it with your diocesan counterparts.
The role of chaplains in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has been steadily diminishing. Rather than supporting the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service (RCChS), the CAF has systematically taken steps that risk eroding its role by mandating what it describes as “neutrality” and “inclusiveness,” with the apparent aim of becoming more secular.
The brief outlines two examples:
In 2022, the Minister of National Defence Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and Discrimination with a focus on Anti-Indigenous and Anti-Black Racism, LGBTQ2+ Prejudice, Gender Bias, and White Supremacy – Final Report was released. Under the heading “Re-Defining Chaplaincy,” the panel made the following recommendation:
6.1 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.
The panel provided the following example of values considered not aligned: “For example, some churches’ exclusion of women from their priesthoods violates principles of equality and social justice, as do sexist notions embedded in their religious dogmas.”
A second example is the Chaplain General Direction on Chaplain’s Spiritual Reflection in Public Settings (October 11, 2023). This directive stipulates that chaplains must not recite traditional prayers at mandatory public military events and must instead deliver inclusive spiritual reflections. It prohibits words such as “God” or “Heavenly Father” and may potentially be enforced through disciplinary action.
These developments suggest a hollowing out of the RCChS and a shift to a more secular model.
A Review of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service (August 2021), attached to the brief, identified that “The RCChS is widely perceived to provide an important service that is greatly valued by the defence and command teams.” Further, the report notes
The value of RCChS services is evident in the large number of members who utilize religious and spiritual services. Between one-quarter and one-half of CAF members were estimated to attend formal chaplaincy services in a two-year period, and between one-half and three-quarters of CAF members had an encounter with a chaplain within that same period. The availability of 24/7 duty chaplains helps to mitigate risks when/if members and their families struggle or encounter personal crisis situations any time of the day or night.
This resolution urges the federal government to “strengthen support through funding for resources, staffing and time for chaplains to provide faith-based care to the members and families of the [CAF] through the [RCChS] and Military Ordinariate.” It asks that League members write to members of parliament to:
- Oppose the adoption of Recommendation 6.1 of the Minister of National Defence Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and Discrimination… – Final Report
- Request the retraction of “Chaplain General Direction on Chaplain’s Spiritual Reflection in Public Settings” (October 11, 2023)
- Reinforce the position of chaplain so they can continue to foster the spiritual, religious and pastoral care of CAF members and their families; and,
- Strengthen support for the Catholic chaplains assuring that they can remain faithful to the guidelines of the Catholic church and the basic expectations of the Military Ordinariate.
Sample wording is attached to assist you. Send your letters before parliament breaks for the summer.
Your sister in the League,
Jessie Parkinson
National Chairperson of Social Justice