That's it. Public remembrance ceremonies across the country often include a short religious - sometimes a multi-faith - element, but the central Act of Remembrance is always non-religious, as above.
It's hard to tell whether that part of the policy was written out of ignorance, or distaste for such outmoded, militaristic manifestations.
Forces personnel have the same basic right as any other citizen to practice their own faith or none. There are debates to be had but it isn't, in the opinion of this BAFF member, a great hardship to be asked to remain present during a short religious element of a largely non-religious event.
Since any religious element of remembrance ceremonies is already separate from the Act of Remembrance and always has been, the policy appears to be calling for something different in future. It will certainly be interpreted as such.
Who wrote this policy, and who authorised its issue as an instruction?
