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Canadian Military to Remove Cross from Cap for Chaplains
LifeSite ^ | November 16, 2004

Posted on 11/17/2004 6:28:44 AM PST by NYer

OTTAWA, November 16, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Canadian Defence Department announced plans Monday to remove the Christian symbol -- a Maltese cross -- from the caps of its army chaplains. The move is claimed to be because the military's first Moslem chaplain was hired last year.

"We are looking at seeing what developments there could be in that field because, to have a Muslim or to have someone of another faith under that same cap badge -- I think it wouldn't be of service to them," military Chaplain Jean Bourgeois told the Toronto Sun.

Both Conservative MP Jason Kenney and chairman of the Commons defence committee, Liberal MP Pat O'Brien were critical of the move.

"I think that's ridiculous. It's typical political correctness," Kenney said, referring to one suggestion to replace the cross with the branch insignia. "Pluralism doesn't mean you eliminate symbols for every different community. It means you respect all the different symbols, whether it's the Star of David for a Jewish chaplain or a (crescent) for a Muslim chaplain."

O'Brien doesn't believe the legitimacy of the "multi-faith nature of society" reason for the proposed change either. "I think we can carry that a little bit too far. Why shouldn't you be able to embrace your own religious symbols?" he said.


TOPICS: Canada; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antireligion; canada; chaplain; churchandstate; cross; military; muslim
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1 posted on 11/17/2004 6:28:44 AM PST by NYer
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To: american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...
Catholic Ping - please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 11/17/2004 6:29:18 AM PST by NYer ("Blessed be He who by His love has given life to all." - final prayer of St. Charbel)
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To: NYer

Replace it with a rainbow?


3 posted on 11/17/2004 6:30:25 AM PST by KoRn
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To: NYer

THis is so typical of the Leftist anti-Christian mindset. Why not have the Christian chaplains with a cross, the Muslim with a crescent and the Jewish with a star of David? Religious freedom also means reasonable accomodation for religious beliefs -- why does a Christian's identity have to be sacrificed here?


4 posted on 11/17/2004 6:31:04 AM PST by Unam Sanctam
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To: NYer

Seems like another good example of the repression of religion that is occurring throughout the western world.


5 posted on 11/17/2004 6:32:50 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: Unam Sanctam

That's what they do in the US military, except that I think the Jewish symbol may be tablets of the Ten Commandments. I think it is a fair system.


6 posted on 11/17/2004 6:33:59 AM PST by Frank L
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To: NYer
Socialists - 7

Christians - 0

7 posted on 11/17/2004 6:35:27 AM PST by Naspino (Not creative enough to have a tagline.)
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To: NYer

why dont they just make the muslim his own hat with a picture of a bomb or a severed head?


8 posted on 11/17/2004 6:36:32 AM PST by CaptainAwesome2
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To: NYer

History of the Canadain Forces Chaplaincy

9 posted on 11/17/2004 6:38:15 AM PST by Tarpaulin (Look it up.)
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To: Unam Sanctam

Agreed...

Just so I get this twisted Canadian logic straight. Crosses are removed to avoid Muslims (and there's no higher priority in this day and age than helping these hypersensitive babies avoid hysterical temper tantrums).

So, Canada, I ask you directly: whatchagonnado when some Muslim starts demanding to display HIS faith and ONLY his faith? Are you going to roll over all in the name of glorious appeasement and let's-all-just-get-along-ism?

To all you blue-state Liberals, PLEASE leave for Canada. They all seem to rationalize just like you.


10 posted on 11/17/2004 6:39:41 AM PST by kromike
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To: NYer

Another reason that helps me understand why so many Canadians serve in the US Military. A politically correct military wouldn't make me feel too good about my chances of survival,let alone victory.


11 posted on 11/17/2004 6:40:35 AM PST by SolutionsOnly
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To: NYer

O'Brien doesn't believe the legitimacy of the "multi-faith nature of society" reason for the proposed change either. "I think we can carry that a little bit too far. Why shouldn't you be able to embrace your own religious symbols?" he said.<<

Because your military now serves satanists and socialists, thats why! A Godly minister would disobey the order to hide symbols of faith.


12 posted on 11/17/2004 6:42:10 AM PST by hushpad
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To: NYer

The ANTI-CHRIST movement is overlooking the fact our calendar years are calculated upon Christs lifetime. Next, all the dates in every Country, in every history book will have to be changed to a new standard, as example,"The DARWIN CALENDAR SYSTEM".


13 posted on 11/17/2004 6:43:23 AM PST by Uncle George
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To: Brilliant

Appalling that Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism are considered "threats", but Islam isn't.


14 posted on 11/17/2004 6:43:31 AM PST by kromike
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To: NYer

Goodbye Canuckistan. Please pick up a burkha at your earliest convienience.


15 posted on 11/17/2004 6:46:39 AM PST by American Vet Repairman (Why do the Nazis and liberals have so much in common?)
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To: kromike

A perfect place for the Church of Alec Baldwin & Friends.


16 posted on 11/17/2004 6:46:55 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Tarpaulin
Thank you for posting that link! What a fascinating and proud history - most enlightening. Couldn't help but chortle when reading this last paragraph.

"The Chaplaincy of the Canadian Forces has a reputation for being one of the most progressive and professionally adept chaplainies in the world. Presently ground breaking work is being done in the areas of Interoperability and the Ministry of Reconciliation in theatres of operation. The Chaplaincy of the Canadian Forces is poised to make even more impressive accomplishments to the glory of God and the instruction and support of all Canadian Forces personnel and their families in the new millenium. "

This was apparently written before they decided to eliminate the cross.

17 posted on 11/17/2004 6:49:13 AM PST by NYer ("Blessed be He who by His love has given life to all." - final prayer of St. Charbel)
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To: NYer

The typical "change the standards to meet those who don't meet the standards". The tactic eventually results in no standards to be met.


18 posted on 11/17/2004 6:50:45 AM PST by azhenfud ("He who is always looking up seldom finds others' lost change...")
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To: Unam Sanctam
Why not have the Christian chaplains with a cross, the Muslim with a crescent and the Jewish with a star of David?

That would be too easy...

19 posted on 11/17/2004 6:51:49 AM PST by Chemist_Geek ("Drill, R&D, and conserve" should be our watchwords! Energy independence for America!)
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To: Chemist_Geek

Yup- if my leg is gone in battle and I'm bleeding out- I will really be reassured if the figure bending over me to pray is not wearing any religious symbols.


20 posted on 11/17/2004 6:55:36 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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