Faith
Biblical Principles Under Attack in Canadian Bill C-09
Faith Facts
- The Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-09 in a 186-137 vote, largely along party lines.
- The legislation repeals a section of the Criminal Code that protected those expressing religious opinions in good faith.
- The bill must now pass the Canadian Senate before it can be signed into law by the Prime Minister.
Canada’s House of Commons recently passed the “Combatting Hate Act,” sparking deep concern over the potential criminalization of traditional Christian teachings. Legislators voted 186-137 to advance Bill C-09, which critics argue dismantles critical safeguards for people of faith expressing biblical truths.
Of particular concern is the bill’s removal of a “good faith” defense that historically protected individuals from prosecution when sharing opinions based on religious texts. Without this shield, believers may face legal repercussions for simply upholding moral doctrines that the secular government deems offensive.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops warned that removing these protections creates dangerous uncertainty for clergy and educators. They fear that expressing traditional morality could now be misinterpreted as criminal hate speech by secular authorities.
“The removal of this provision risks creating uncertainty for faith communities, clergy, educators, and others who may fear that the expression of traditional moral or doctrinal teachings could be misinterpreted as hate speech.”
As believers, we must remain vigilant and prayerful for our brothers and sisters in Canada as they face an environment increasingly hostile to the Gospel. We trust in God’s sovereignty even as secular governments seek to chill the expression of eternal truths.