Dear Friend,
It shouldn’t surprise us that religious intolerance in Canada is on the rise.
The increase in anti-religious speech and incidents reported in the news every day, including vandalism and violence, may reflect a growing climate of intolerance towards people of faith in this country.
Two examples of religious intolerance against Christians are causing the EFC deep concern. Both come from federal bodies that the public trusts to be impartial and free from discrimination.
Last fall, the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) published its Discussion Paper on Religious Intolerance, aimed at addressing the problem of religious intolerance in Canada and its roots.
The paper rightly reminds Canadians of the need to accommodate people’s religious beliefs in the workplace as much as possible, to challenge religious stereotypes, and to guard against any speech or actions that might make someone feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, insulted or othered because of their religious identity.
Unfortunately, the paper ended up doing precisely what it urges others not to do – stirring up potential resentment towards a particular faith group, namely Christians.
In introducing the topic of systemic discrimination, the CHRC appears to point a critical finger at those who are “white, male, Christian, English-speaking, thin/fit, able-bodied, heterosexual, and gender conforming.” The CHRC goes on further to suggest that the statutory holidays of Christmas and Easter are “obvious examples” of “systemic religious discrimination” in Canada, implying that aspects of our Christian heritage are responsible for present-day systemic discrimination against religious minorities.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities promptly responded to the paper and explained that the CHRC’s use of stereotypes actually ended up unfairly targeting Christians. There was even widespread uproar in the general news media and on Parliament Hill over the perceived attack by the CHRC on Christmas! In the end, the CHRC publicly stated that it had been “misunderstood.”
In our submission to the CHRC, we pointed out that using the statutory holidays of Christmas and Easter as examples of religious intolerance was flawed. (After all, the government has never forced any one to attend Christmas or Easter services, for example!) We also argued that removing all forms of religion and religious expression from public life would make us a more
intolerant country, not a more tolerant one. Instead, we urged the CHRC to protect religious freedom by fostering a positive vision of religious tolerance and promoting greater accommodation of religious belief and practice in this country.
We are also concerned over unresolved issues with the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program. The process of how Christian charities are being evaluated for these publicly-funded grants remains unclear and inconsistent.
In the EFC’s recent submission to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development, we noted that while many Christian groups continue to benefit from the program, there are still faith-based organizations (like some Bible camps and Christian schools) that are being rejected for CSJ grants. Absent any other explanations, the rejections seems to be based on their religious beliefs.
Several of our affiliates have told us that some Service Canada employees appear to be flagging applications from Christian groups and placing them under increased scrutiny. However, it’s not the summer jobs themselves that are being scrutinized, or even the programs that are looking to hire. Rather, some Service Canada employees seem to be screening applicants based on their statements of faith. Some Christian groups have even been asked to explain their religious doctrine!
Applications for CSJ grants are being sidelined for review or rejected, not because the organizations have shown discriminatory practices that violate human rights laws, but because of the organizations’ beliefs on issues like abortion and sexuality. So, despite assurances to the contrary, it appears that there are still some instances of discrimination against religious organizations that do not support a particular ideological commitment. The EFC is urging more transparency in the process so that such inequitable practices can be stopped.
Requiring a “loyalty oath” to certain secular values in order to access government benefits violates the fundamental Charter freedoms of conscience and religion, thought, belief, opinion and expression. Public funds should not be withheld from law-abiding organizations just because their religious beliefs don’t align with majority views. That’s the very definition of religious intolerance.
Government bodies like the CHRC and Service Canada have the duty to maintain state neutrality. Christians should not be unlawfully discriminated against on account of their deeply-held beliefs.
All freedoms thrive when religious freedom is respected and protected. Your continued support of the work of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada in protecting our religious freedom is crucial. Your financial gifts ensure that we can respond to displays of religious intolerance in a timely manner, whether they’re done overtly, as in the CHRC discussion paper, or behind closed doors, as with CSJ applications.
Will you prayerfully consider making a gift today? Thank you!
Dr. David Guretzki
President & CEO