National defence bans Christian prayers. (Canada).

Vancouver--On November 8, 2001, Susan Martinuk, a Vancouver journalist, noted the irony that while our armed forces were preparing to fight for religious liberty in Afghanistan, it was being diminished at home. A new National Defence prayer guide directs chaplains to refrain from making any specific references to Christianity during prayer services. No more mention of Jesus, or praying in the name of the "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" or talking about "God the Father." Instead the more generic term "Creator" is recommended.

This dressing-down of Christianity is to make the military more "inclusive." The policy is specifically aimed at Christianity and its only purpose is to attack the foundations of our religion. Yet we should not be surprised, Miss Martinuk says. At the memorial service on Parliament Hill for victims of the September 11 disaster, there was not one reference to Christianity. At the remembrance service on the coast of Nova Scotia for victims of the Swissair crash, Christians from various denominations were told to make no reference to Jesus and to refrain from reading the New Testament.

A spokesman for Defence Minister Art Eggleton insists that new rules are necessary to create a "true ecumenical service...a true representation of Canada."

The proper Catholic response to this directive is clear. It is not a valid order. No government has the right to banish Christianity from the public sphere. St. Paul says, "I preach Christ, and Him crucified." He also says, "Woe is me, if I do not do so." God comes before Art Eggleton. Even before Jean Chretien (see Herman Goodden, page 9).