Asking military chaplains to forego their Christian beliefs during public services represents a new low in political correctness, says Canadian Alliance MP Art Hanger.

"How on earth can a Christian chaplain represent a Muslim cleric?' asked the former defence critic, from his Ottawa office yesterday. "Unless they're going to pray to a generic god, how can they represent other faiths?

"I don't agree with it at all ... This is taking political correctness to a new level."

The military office of the chaplain general issued a new policy on public prayer last summer, leaving its padres in the unique position of being asked not to refer to certain fundamental aspects of their faith.

Some of those references include the Lord's Prayer, as well as certain traditional Christian phrases like "Father, Son and Holy Spirit," a longstanding, integral part of the Roman Catholic service.

After reading about the change in The Whig-Standard last week, Hanger, a Protestant, was so upset he called Defence Minister Art Eggleton.

He didn't get to speak to him directly, but added that he will be following up to find out why the change was made.

"The last time I walked through the battlefields in Europe, they were filled with crosses and a few Stars of David," he said, adding that he didn't see any signs of other faiths.

"That is, and was, reflective of the faith of the people who fought."

While most of the Canadian soldiers who went to fight in both the First and Second World Wars were Christian, troops from India and other Commonwealth countries - from which soldiers of other faiths came - also fought. They, too, commemorated at war cemeteries.

Hanger, an Alberta MP, said the recent policy change has more to do with politics that the makeup of today's Canadian military.

"The number of soldiers of other faiths is small," he added.

Hanger isn't the only one who's unhappy about the policy change.

Several people wrote to the military expressing their dissatisfaction after the Canadian Forces held its first inter-faith service at Royal Military College in September.

One writer called the ceremony - which included prayers from a Buddhist monk and a medicine woman - a "mockery."

But for others, including devout Roman Catholic and former soldier Peter Story, the change is welcome.

"I totally agree with what they've done and I think it's important," he said.

"I approve."

He added that it's not about being "generic," but rather its an effort to include people of all faiths.

Efforts to include other faiths are even being made within the staunchly traditional Roman Catholic Church.

"It's not uncommon for a Roman Catholic priest to attend a Jewish synagogue for a service," said Story, an active member at the St. John Bosco congregation in Brockville.

He also pointed to a recent graduation ceremony at Queen's University where a Protestant minister conducted an ecumenical service in an effort to include everyone who attended.

As long as Roman Catholics and other Christians can attend their own traditional services that are conducted in the way they are accustomed to, what difference does the change make, he asked.