The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and Cardinal Francis Leo asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to withdraw the Liberal Party's reported deal with the Bloc Québécois to eliminate religious-belief exemptions in hate-speech laws. CCCB President Bishop Pierre Goudreault warned that repealing Section 319(3)(b) of the criminal code, which shields good-faith religious expressions from hate-speech prosecution, would create a "chilling effect on religious expression." The bishops proposed retaining the religious-text defense or, alternatively, issuing a public assurance against prosecuting good-faith religious expression and mandating consultations before changes affecting religious freedom. Cardinal Leo stated that while Catholics reject hatred, the freedom to teach faith without fear of misinterpretation as unlawful speech is vital for a democratic Canada.
7 days ago
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and Cardinal Francis Leo of Toronto have urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to abandon plans to remove religious-belief exemptions from Canada's hate-speech laws.1 2 This stems from a reported Liberal Party deal with the Bloc Québécois to repeal Section 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code, which shields good-faith expressions based on religious texts from prosecution.1 2
The proposed change is part of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, which aims to criminalize intimidation near faith-based institutions and ban certain hate symbols.1 2 Critics argue the repeal could criminalize traditional religious teachings, leading to up to two years in prison.1 2
CCCB President Bishop Pierre Goudreault warned in a December 4 letter that removing the exemption would create a "chilling effect" on religious expression.1 2 He highlighted risks for clergy, educators, and faith communities fearing misinterpretation of doctrinal teachings as hate speech.1 2
The bishops called for retaining the provision or, alternatively, issuing public assurances against prosecuting good-faith religious activities and mandating consultations with religious and legal experts.1 2
Cardinal Leo, in a letter to Toronto Catholics shared with MPs, stressed rejecting all hatred while defending the right to freely proclaim the Gospel without fear of legal repercussions.1 2 He described this freedom as essential to Canada's democracy.1 2
A December 4 justice committee meeting on the amendment was canceled by Liberal chair James Maloney, who cited a need to "regroup."1 2 This followed former chair Marc Miller's appointment as Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.1 2
Conservative MP Andrew Lawton criticized the Liberals for avoiding clarity on the issue, leaving faith communities in uncertainty.1 2 He rejected accusations of filibustering from Liberal MP Leslie Church, insisting Conservatives seek proper debate.1 2
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet tied his party's support for Bill C-9 to the exemption's removal, suggesting the cancellation reflected Liberal fears of backlash.1 2 Lawton referenced Miller's earlier comments implying some religious texts contain hateful statements unfit as defenses.1 2
Lawton praised interventions from Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu leaders, emphasizing the change would affect all faiths.1 2 This broad coalition underscores shared concerns over religious freedoms amid the bill's progression.1 2
The Bloc's position aligns with Quebec's secularism efforts, including Bill 9 introduced November 27, which bans public prayers, religion-based meals, and religious symbols in communications.1 2 These measures reflect a provincial drive to limit religious expression in public spaces.1 2
Parliament is scheduled to recess December 12 and resume January 26, potentially delaying further action on Bill C-9.1 2 The controversy highlights tensions between combating hate and protecting religious liberties in Canada.1 2
Protect religious‑text exemptions in Canada’s hate‑speech law
In the face of evolving legal frameworks that seek to combat discrimination, the Catholic Church emphasizes the vital need to safeguard religious freedom, particularly the right to proclaim and teach sacred truths without undue coercion. This includes exemptions for religious texts in hate-speech laws, which allow the faithful to express doctrinal beliefs rooted in Scripture and Tradition. Such protections are not mere legal niceties but essential to the Church's mission of evangelization and moral guidance. Drawing from foundational Catholic teachings, this analysis explores why these exemptions must be preserved in Canada, where tensions between civil liberties and religious expression have intensified. The Church's social doctrine underscores that restricting the proclamation of faith undermines human dignity and the common good, as articulated in key magisterial documents.
The Catholic Church views religious freedom as an inalienable right grounded in the dignity of the human person, created in God's image and called to seek truth through conscience. This freedom encompasses not only private belief but also public expression, including the teaching of religious doctrines that may challenge prevailing cultural norms. As the Second Vatican Council's Dignitatis Humanae declares, individuals and communities must be immune from coercion in matters of faith, ensuring no one is forced to act contrary to their beliefs, whether privately or in association with others. This immunity extends to religious groups demonstrating the value of their teachings for society, rooted in the social nature of humanity and the essence of religion itself.
Pope John XXIII reinforced this in Pacem in Terris, listing among human rights the ability to honor God according to one's sincere conscience, both privately and publicly. For the Church, this is not optional; faith must penetrate all aspects of life, including worldly activities, to bear fruit in society. Without such freedom, the Church cannot fulfill her divine mandate to proclaim the Gospel, govern her institutions, and influence civic life in accord with Catholic principles. Thomistic theology further illuminates this: the Church's supernatural end—salvation through grace—requires independence from state interference, allowing her to administer sacraments, excommunicate for just cause, and operate charities like hospitals and schools without external dictation. Attacking this liberty opposes God's will, as it hinders the Church's role in human salvation.
In Canada, these principles resonate deeply amid a cultural landscape influenced by moral relativism. Pope John Paul II, addressing Canadian bishops, urged them to teach Catholic doctrine with clarity and unity, guarding against errors that pervert the Gospel. He stressed the duty to form consciences according to unchanging moral norms, even when they conflict with contemporary views, emphasizing that the Magisterium's definitive teachings on faith and morals demand firm assent. This prophetic role of "vigilant love" requires legal space for bishops and faithful to articulate truths without fear of reprisal.
Hate-speech legislation, while aimed at protecting vulnerable groups, can inadvertently encroach on religious liberty when it fails to exempt sacred texts or doctrinal teachings. In Canada, proposed expansions to such laws—echoing broader Western trends—risk labeling expressions of Catholic moral teaching as discriminatory, particularly on issues like marriage, sexuality, and human dignity. This mirrors concerns raised by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), whose principles apply universally: religious freedom must be promoted vigorously, as its erosion at home weakens global witness against persecution. The USCCB warns that protections like tax exemptions for the Church are now questioned due to her teachings on marriage, a cautionary tale for Canada where similar dynamics unfold.
Pope John Paul II explicitly addressed religious freedom's vulnerability, stating that its violation attacks human dignity regardless of professed faith. He critiqued ideologies that privilege atheism or secularism, treating believers as second-class citizens and depriving them of spiritual inspiration essential for justice and love. In the Canadian context, this manifests in efforts to silence teachings drawn from Scripture, such as those on the natural ordering of sexuality to heterosexual marriage, which some view as "hate speech." Yet, Catholic philosophy, rooted in natural law, holds that such doctrines affirm human flourishing, not hatred. Forcing Catholic institutions—schools, universities, or parishes—to conform or face penalties revokes the very diversity and free speech championed in pluralistic societies.
The Church's internal governance further demands exemptions: bishops alone define institutional identity and practices, a right reserved to the Church herself. Government mandates that contradict this, such as redefining what constitutes authentic faith practice, assault religious freedom. As Thomistic thought explains, the Church must freely welcome converts, deny sacraments to those violating Gospel tenets, and govern charities per Catholic principles—rights that hate-speech laws could undermine if exemptions are narrowed. Pope John Paul II, speaking to Myanmar's bishops (with parallels to Canada), affirmed that promoting human dignity and religious freedom is a non-negotiable task, grounded in the Incarnation and universal moral norms inscribed in the heart.
Canada's Catholic bishops have long navigated these tensions, as seen in their pastoral commitments to dialogue and truth. In a 2023 letter, they renewed sorrow for historical wrongs like residential schools while committing to justice and healing—yet this reconciliation path demands fidelity to Gospel truth, not dilution under legal pressure. Echoing Pope Francis, they describe the Church as a "body of reconciliation," where wounded memories heal through honest encounter, not coerced silence. Protecting religious-text exemptions ensures Catholics can teach Scripture's calls to love and repentance without equating doctrinal clarity with hatred.
Broader Church history reinforces vigilance: Pope Clement XIII decried "evil books" that spread impiety, urging bishops to eradicate falsehoods while safeguarding the flock— a metaphor for defending against laws that poison public discourse on faith. Today, this means advocating for exemptions that honor Dignitatis Humanae's vision: stable conditions for the Church's mission. The USCCB's plea for conscience rights in health care parallels this, urging laws that do not force participation in acts violating faith, such as those conflicting with pro-life or moral teachings. In Canada, similar conscience protections must extend to speech, preventing the state from dictating Gospel interpretation.
Protecting religious-text exemptions in Canada's hate-speech laws is a moral imperative, preserving the Church's freedom to teach unchanging truths amid cultural shifts. As Catholic doctrine affirms, religious liberty fosters human dignity, social justice, and fraternal love—ends unattainable without space for authentic witness. By prioritizing these safeguards, Canada can honor its pluralistic heritage while respecting the Church's divine charter. The faithful are called to advocate prayerfully and persistently, ensuring the Gospel's light penetrates society without dimming under legal shadows. In this, we echo the Magisterium's enduring call: proclaim the faith boldly, for truth sets free.