OTTAWA -- The Conservative government says part-time chaplains working in federal prisons will not have their contracts renewed when they expire next year.
The government says the move will affect 31 Christian and 18 non-Christian chaplains who had part-time contracts.
Full-time chaplains will still be available to provide spiritual advice to the general prison population.
A spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says the government funds some full-time chaplains that are determined based on the number of inmates requesting services from each faith.
"Convicted criminals will continue to have access to religious services of their choice on a voluntary basis," Julie Carmichael said in an email.
"The government funds some full-time chaplains that are determined based on the number of inmates requesting services from each faith. These chaplains will also make themselves available to provide services to the general population."
Conservative MP Candice Bergen says the military has run its chaplaincy program the same way for years.
"If it is good enough for our armed forces, then it is good enough for inmates in our federal penitentiaries," she said.
Just for accuracy, all part-time chaplains have been let go. 20 of the 100 part-time chaplains are non-Christians. Of the 80 full-time chaplains that remain, one is non-Christian.
That said, it does seem like a sneaky way to get rid of almost all non-Christian chaplains.
Personally, I think chaplains provide a valuable service to those that want it - I wouldn't want to see them all let go. But what are the requirements for becoming a full-time chaplain? Why aren't there more non-Christian full-time chaplains?
A military should not employ any religious priests, imams, etc..
A military above all should be secular in its administration, duty and action. If those within the military seek religious guidance, consultation, there is a plethora of churches, groups and people whom they can seek out privately without tax dollars or the government officially being involved.
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I always liked this old song from 68, not that I like religion much but if prisoners or the armed forces want a minister, they should have that choice. It was a strange song for that time with all the Viet Nam protests and maybe best listened to with a doobie but I guess it brought the soldiers predicament home.
A military should not employ any religious priests, imams, etc..
A military above all should be secular in its administration, duty and action. If those within the military seek religious guidance, consultation, there is a plethora of churches, groups and people whom they can seek out privately without tax dollars or the government officially being involved.
So you are saying that a soldier who is about to go into battle, and about to lay his life on the line for his country, should have to go find the nearest town with a minister or priest, if he wants some comfort and guidance?
So you are saying that a soldier who is about to go into battle, and about to lay his life on the line for his country, should have to go find the nearest town with a minister or priest, if he wants some comfort and guidance?
You are one harsh sob.
What do the muslim, jewish, or hindu soldiers do if they want to seek comfort and guidance?
I think that a Chaplin should be available for any nationally recognized religion. Obviously, some wouldn't be full time, or even part time. Perhaps some may even have to be on a volunteer basis.
I thought the exact thing. It should be one rule for all.
That's all fine and dandy but since they found themselves in prison to begin with, they obviously don't play by that rule. Why can't they just have one inter-faith(probably not the right word) minister for all religions?
Someone mentioned special food prep like kosher meals....are you f--king kidding me? They're in prison for fata sake, they should have no rights. They're lucky the food isn't shoved through a hole in the door ala Papillon and they have to sh*t in a bucket.
So you are saying that a soldier who is about to go into battle, and about to lay his life on the line for his country, should have to go find the nearest town with a minister or priest, if he wants some comfort and guidance?
You are one harsh sob.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yasa
What do the muslim, jewish, or hindu soldiers do if they want to seek comfort and guidance?
Unfortunately for Wiccans, they don't have a ton of money to throw at the cause of legitimacy.
If they could ever get their act together and extort their membership, they could become a real player in the 'largest private land holders who don't pay any taxes' circuit.
Now, someone please defend Vic Toews wasting taxpayer time and money by clogging up the legislative process and soon, the supreme courts time with these trumped up and unecessarry laws of morality that will not stand up to the rigours of a constitutional challenge?
What a farking joke this guy is.
He's more than Rob Anders style joke. This guy was hand picked.
Especially when Vic has shown he has no need for morality
Anders is crazy that Harper just can't muzzle. Vic Toews, on the other hand, might just be a shield to distance Harper from the crazier parts of his policy.
