The military chaplains are representatives of the various religious worships within the armed forces.

Canada

In the Canadian Armed forces, the military chaplains are Officier S (generally with the rank of Capitaine) which belong to a special trade association, the chaplaincy. In the force of reserve, they carry the same uniforms and military Grades that the officers of the units in which they are useful. In the regular force, the chaplain of the unit can carry a different uniform.

What distinguishes more the chaplains of the other officers is the religious badge which they carry above the plate of identity (Latin cross for the Christians, star of David for the Jews, growing for the Moslems). Although non-combatant, they also carry the battle dress of the Canadian Armed forces when they accompany their unit in operation. On this behavior, a religious fabric badge is bent on the badge of rank ( flap ). On a theater of operations abroad, a visible arm-band differentiate them.

In addition to the standard uniforms, the military chaplains can cover any vestment necessary in order to proceed to religious celebrations. The stole generally used is decorated badge of the Canadian Armed forces and they can carry their medals. In uniform, the Roman Col is also allowed, but left the discretion of the chaplain.

The role of the Aumônier S consists in meeting the spiritual needs and monks of the soldiers and their family, to support the troops morally (they are a resource in several fields) and advise as much the members of the row as the Officier S. In addition, they are the only officers admitted in the messes and canteens of the members of the row.

With the Canada, the Aumônier S are traditionally gathered according to two confessions: roman catholics and Protestants. On the other hand, a Moslem chaplain was recently commissioned. All are ready to act œcuméniquement.

The catholic chaplains are distinguished in two groups: laic personnel and ordered personnel. The two groups generally have the same mission and the same tasks to be achieved, but the ordered chaplains (priests and deacons) have some religious capacity additional thanks to the sacrament of the order. The catholic chaplains answer the bishop of Ordinariat Militaire (Ordinaris Militaris) of Canada.

The military habit wants that the military chaplains are called padre . This title wants to say father in Spanish and Italian, and comes owing to the fact that the chaplains were traditionally Christian priests or pastors. The veined title of starts to be spread to identify the chaplains of female sex. The chaplains are perceived like the spiritual fathers and mothers of the soldiers.

France

Organization

The chaplaincies of the French Armies are controls by the laws July 8th 1880 and December 9th 1905 and by the decree of June 1st 1964. These texts specify the basic right for each soldier practice his religion and the responsibilities for the command as regards exercise of the worships. The decree of the March 16th 2005 determines the statute of the military chaplains.

Taking into account its objectives and its missions, each chaplaincy presents an organization adapted to that of the armies.

  • the chaplain-in-chief, placed near the staff of the armies, directs the chaplaincy of the worship concerned.

  • It is assisted of chaplain-in-chief assistant (one by army: ground, air, sea and gendarmerie).
  • In each zone of defense, it is represented by a regional chaplain , placed near the general officer of zone of defense, which coordinates the action of the local chaplains, whatever their army of membership. This regional chaplain can have an assistant, placed near the general officer ( ground, air, sea or gendarmerie ) for each army present on his zone of defense.

The military chaplains are divided, by army, according to authorized manpower.

Worships

There exists, within the French Army of the chaplains:
  • of the catholic worship
  • of the worship protesting
  • of the worship Jew
  • of the Muslim cult (since October 2006):

Moreover, since November 2006, an orthodoxe priest of the Patriarcat of Moscow is detached 30 days per annum with the Foreign legion, taking into account the strong proportion of soldiers of this confession within this weapon.

Before their nomination by the ministry for defense, the future chaplains obtain French persons in charge of their worship the “capacities religious” attesting that the candidates are regarded as “ministers of religion” in their respective religions.

Statute of the chaplains

Previously engaged with the title of the one of the three armies, the national police or the common services, the military chaplains subscribe, since the decree of the March 16th 2005, a contract under the Department of health of the armies. They ensure the religious support of the personnel of the defense which wishes it in the places where the attached armies and formations exert their missions.

The chaplains advise the command. They do not have any capacity to give orders, except in the performance of their duty with regard to the personnel placed at their disposal. They cannot pronounce punishment.

They hold the single rank of military chaplain, without correspondence with the general military hierarchy.

They can moreover receive the military name of chaplain as a chief, military chaplain as an assistant chief or regional military chaplain, on decision of the Minister for defense, according to the exerted responsibilities.

On the plan of precedences, the chaplains as a chief take seat after the general officers. Other chaplains among the senior officers.

None the lawful regulations as regards marks external of respect is, in theory, applicable for them. Nevertheless, they owe safety to the general officers. They exchange it with the other soldiers.

They raise jointly:

- of the chaplain soldier-in-chief of their worship, concerning the relative questions with their worship;

- military authority, concerning the methods of exercise of their missions within the formations of defense.

The military chaplains profit from an advance of level of balance which takes place with the seniority.

Rank and names

Their badge of rank is, for the Army, the common national police and services (Department of health of the armies, for example), a stylized olive branch, carried in bar, gold or money according to their statute or their function, framed or not according to their function, carried
  • with the badge of the chaplaincy of the worship concerned for the Army (cross for the catholic and Protestant chaplains, Tables of the Law for the Jews, growing for the Moslems),
  • with the grenade “wood of stag” gold surmounted by two rafters for the national police.
The chaplains of marine carry an anchor charged with the badge of worship, those of the air force the badge of worship and the sparrowhawk of this army.

In the regular manner, they are called the military chaplains “Mister (or Madam ) the chaplain”.

In practice, names vary according to the units. Thus, the catholic chaplain, when he is priest, is often called “Padre” (name in the beginning reserved to the chaplains parachutists but who is " démocratisée" thereafter) or, more commonly “My father”, the embarked chaplains of the National marine traditionally receive on board the whirring title of “Monseigneur”, the pupils of the colleges and military preparatory classes qualify, according to the places, their chaplains of “Marab” (name specific to the Military National Academy), “Bohut”, “Babasse”… The Protestant chaplains are often called “Pasteur” and the chaplains Jews “Mister the rabbi”. The Moslem chaplaincy being of recent creation, it does not seem that its chaplains currently received a name “of tradition”.

Humane international law

The Geneva Conventions stipulates that the chaplains attached to the armed forces, like the exclusively affected medical personnel with research, removal, transport or the treatment of wounded and the patients or the prevention of the diseases, the exclusively affected personnel with the administration of the formations and sanitary institutions, will be respected and protected in all circumstances.

During an armed conflict, if they fall to the capacity from the opposing party, they are retained only insofar as the medical condition, the needs spiritual and the number of prisoners of war require it. They are not considered as prisoners of war.

To justify of their state, the military chaplains are equipped with a special indentity card and an arm-band, provided with the emblem of the Red Cross on white zone.

Internal bonds


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