Army chaplains to remove ‘conquer’ from 102-year-old motto because it is offensive to Muslims
November 20, 2015 11:00pm
MATTHEW BENNS ExclusiveThe Daily Telegraph
A move to change the Australian Army Chaplaincy Corps hat badge is under consideration.
THE Australian Army is removing the motto “In this sign conquer” from the 102-year-old hat badges of army chaplains because it is offensive to Muslims.
The move comes after an imam approved by the Grand Mufti was appointed to join the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services in June.
Australian Army chaplains have had the motto on their hat badges since 1913.
A Defence spokeswoman last night denied the motto was being changed because it was associated with the Crusades, when Christian armies fought Muslims in the Holy Land during the Middle Ages.
“The motto of the Australian Army Chaplains is being changed to better reflect the diversity of religion throughout the Australian Army,” she said.
“The new wording on the Australian Army Chaplaincy badge is under consideration and no decision has been made at this time.”
Former army major Bernard Gaynor, whose commission was terminated last year due to his outspoken views, said: “This is political correctness destroying our military heritage.”
Mr Gaynor, who is standing as the Australian Liberty Alliance senate candidate for Queensland, said political correctness in the military was highlighted by the appointment of an imam.
Sheikh Mohamadu Nawas Saleem.
“The government must stop the political correctness. It must dismiss the Defence Imam for his views. And it must put Australia first,” he said.
Military historian Professor Peter Stanley from UNSW Canberra said: “The motto was acceptable 100 years ago but today has crusader connotations.”
Despite the perceived crusader links, he said the motto actually comes from Emperor Constantine’s vision before he won the battle of Milviian Bridge in 312AD and converted to Christianity: “Jewish chaplains already have a separate badge with a Star of David, so Muslim chaplains would not be expected to wear the current badge. They would have one with a crescent.”
Army chaplains are understood to have pushed for the change. Former principal chaplain to the army Monsignor Greg Flynn said: “We have been aware of this coming down the track and most chaplains would agree with the change. It is a reality.”
Grand Mufti of Australia Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed. Picture: Richard Dobson
Professor Tom Frane, former Bishop to the Defence Force, said: “It seems like a crusading motto — triumphal. It is not the first time it has been misinterpreted. If times have changed it is worth another look.”
The army imam, Sheik Mohamadu Nawas Saleem, has previously called for sharia law to be introduced into Australia. He signed a petition supporting radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has argued in favour of honour killings and said Muslim students should not be forced to honour Anzac Day.
Sheik Saleem works about 40 days a year for the Army and is paid $717 for each one: almost $30,000 a year.
The sheik did not respond to requests for comment.
Sheik Saleem was supported for the role by Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, who this week sparked controversy by failing to come straight out and condemn the Paris terror attacks.
The Defence spokeswoman said: “There are 102 ADF permanent members who self-identify as Muslim. In addition there are 40 Active Reservists who have declared as Muslim.’’
LEONARD WILLIAM CLAMPETT
As a Veteran I find it absolutely unbelievable that Defence Force Chaplains would band together to stab OUR defence personnel in the back by siding with less than 2% of the population of the Commonwealth of Australia, whose brothers in arms fight against OUR defence personnel and have sworn to kill all those who do not believe their weird religion.
What a travesty that Chaplains should be suckered in to being useful idiots for the One Worlders who want to destroy all communities with so called multiculturalism and have a one world government, a one world police FORCE, a one world defence FORCE, a one world currency (i.e. control all peoples by controlling their money or means of living) having all business run by corporations which currently control governments with their colossal influence.
You people are seditious treasonists in the extreme and your names are all recorded for the treason/sedition trials that will ultimately take place.
What crooks we are allowing to preach to our military heros? I must support Len Clampett who is obviously ready to help repel the islamic escapees and charge our make believe leaders with treason.It is obvious they have joined the old vatican advance.
Recruiting Moslems to the ADF serves no useful purpose. When I was an Army Officer nobody would have contemplated the enlistment of recruits whose textbook for life was Mein Kampf or the Communist Manifesto. There are grave dangers in allowing the enlistment of individuals whose textbook for life is arguably even more hostile to Australian Civilisation. The depth of military recklessness is plumbed by whoever decided that a Moslem could be granted a security clearance which provides access to all of our naval codes and procedures and command of a ship of the RAN. The purpose of the ADF is to deter all potential enemies from attacking us, and if that fails to ensure that any attacker is destroyed. That purpose does not embrace social engineering.
This is ridiculous. Do we expect a Chaplain appointed to be an Imam for those in the Army that are Muslem to be supported by an Archbishop and vetted by a Bishop? Of course not. ‘Conquer’ can no more upset Muslems as it upsets Christians.
Absolutely disgusting is the kindest way I can describe it. The bleeding heart groups who support immigration should take a good look behind the scenes e.g Manchester, Birmingham in the UK , Marseilles in France is almost completely overrun by Islamic areas.
Amsterdam in Holland..
The grenies , their mates and the pollies should get off the beaten track.
I served in the Army (3/78470) so I want my grand and great grandchildren to live in a democratic country. Fly our flag to show you care.
what are the actual demographics in the Australian Military..Who do the Chaplins offer pastoral care too.. Christians Perhaps..This is a crock….
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:11:35 +0000 To: tom@tomcollins.org