And why we’re going to the Supreme Court over prostitution
The EFC will launch a new monitor to track discrimination and hate crimes against Christians in Canada.
As of November 18 (not October 21 as previously announced), TheEFC.ca will provide an avenue for Christians to report incidents of anti-Christian discrimination, vandalism or violence in Canada. The EFC will track changes and trends in the frequency and intensity of incidents that infringe on the human rights of Christians.
This monitoring of incidents will equip the EFC to better advocate for religious freedom and call governments to follow through on their human rights obligations.
“We believe this monitor is needed as anti-religious sentiment increases,” says David Guretzki, president of the EFC. Canadians have seen an alarming increase in antisemitism in recent months, and fatal attacks against Muslims in recent years. Religious groups in these communities track hate crimes to report on trends and needs. It’s time for the Christian community to do the same.”
Evangelicals don’t often face physical threats, but anti-evangelical commentary and moves to exclude Christians from public life are not uncommon. “At the EFC, we’ve seen Christian groups who apply for government grants be flagged for review based on their beliefs,” says Julia Beazley, the EFC’s director of public policy. Canadian university faculty have proposed excluding applicants to medical school if they would be conscientious objectors to practices such as MAiD or abortion.
Declining church attendance and religious literacy may indirectly foster intolerance of religious beliefs and practices. Anti-Christian bias may be as mild as social exclusion or as intense as church arson. The EFC’s website will track the more serious incidents.
If you know of situations of anti- Christian discrimination, vandalism or violence, please encourage those involved to report the incident at
TheEFC.ca/ReportIncident.
IN OTHER EFC NEWS, the EFC will be making arguments at the Supreme Court in November, as a co-intervener with the Association for Reformed Political Action.
In this case, known as
Kloubakov v. Canada, two men who worked for an escort agency run by convicted traffickers were found guilty of procuring women into prostitution and financially benefiting from prostitution. The men are challenging the constitutionality of these laws.
The EFC and ARPA will be arguing in support of the laws, arguing that they protect human dignity and equality.
The EFC has worked hard to see the purchase of sexual services criminalized and intervenes to uphold these laws. Our actions are grounded in our belief that prostitution violates human dignity and exploits those who are vulnerable. It degrades people – treating them like a commodity.
As Christians, we know that each person is created in the image of God, after His likeness, loved by Him, and with inherent dignity. We must respect and uphold each person’s inherent worth, and not stand for them being treated as objects for another’s personal gratification.
Including this case, the EFC has been an intervenor at the Supreme Court more than 30 times.
To be an intervener means the EFC can make legal arguments as “a friend of the court.” This allows for more and different legal arguments to be made that aren’t being made by either of the two sides in a case.
The understanding of law and the application of the
Charter builds in each new case. If an argument isn’t made in a particular case, it won’t be considered in the court’s decision.
Even when decisions are not in our favour, arguments made by the EFC are often reflected in the written decisions, which set precedent for future cases and how the
Charter will be applied.
Please join us
- Share the news about the new monitor to track anti-Christian activity in Canada.
- Consider becoming a monthly donor to the EFC, if you haven’t already. We need your help to keep doing the work we do across Canada.
- Please pray for the work of the EFC. We depend on the prayer of our partners and supporters. We also love to pray for you!
Also in this issue: Conference affirms common calling, How your gifts matter, A note from EFC President David Guretzki.