Statement on Quebec Bill 21 to Remove Religious Symbols from Quebec Public Sector Workers

by | Apr 7, 2019 | Articles, Issues, News

Toronto, ON April 5, 2019 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) notes with regret last week’s introduction of proposed legislation to force all religious symbols to be removed by specific public sector workers in the province of Quebec. The League is not terribly surprised by the demands of the Legault Coalition Avenir government, but remains disappointed with the proposal, which is likely to pass given its legislative majority. It was not long ago, in 2015, when the Supreme Court of Canada struck out a short affirmative prayer at the commencement of council meetings in the town of Saguenay, over the objections of an atheist activist. We commented how this ruling would serve as a wedge to demand further demands to have the public square adopt more stringent demands against all religious viewpoints, to advance the “naked” public square, the 1984 phrase coined by the late Canadian commentator, Father Richard John Neuhaus. Here is what we said a short 4 years ago: Mr. Justice Gascon cited the previous ruling of the Quebec Court of Appeal, which had decided in favour of a notion of “benevolent neutrality” in the Saguenay case: The duty of neutrality must be complied with in a manner that is consistent with society’s heritage and traditions, and with the state’s duty to preserve its history (para. 69). Protection of the diversity of beliefs must be reconciled with the cultural reality of society, which includes its religious heritage (para. 72). The Quebec court further held that the interference with Mr. Simoneau’s freedom, if any, was trivial or insubstantial in the case of both the prayer and the...

Déclaration sur le projet de loi 21 au Québec visant à supprimer les symboles religieux des travailleurs du secteur public québécois

by | Apr 5, 2019 | Articles, Issues, News

Toronto, ON 3 avril 2019 – La Ligue catholique des droits humains (LCDH) note avec regret la présentation, la semaine dernière, d’un projet de loi visant à obliger certains travailleurs du secteur public à enlever tout symbole religieux. La Ligue n’est pas très étonnée des exigences du gouvernement Legault de la Coalition avenir Québec, mais est néanmoins déçue par la proposition qui risque d’être adoptée, compte tenu de la majorité législative du parti. Il n’y a pas si longtemps, en 2015, que la Cour suprême du Canada a radié une courte prière affirmative au début des séances du conseil municipal de la ville de Saguenay à cause des objections d’un activiste athée. Nous avions expliqué que cette décision marquerait le commencement de revendications plus strictes contre les points de vue religieux divers, dans le but de promouvoir un espace public «nu», selon l’expression inventée en 1984 par le regretté commentateur canadien Richard A. Neuhaus. Voici ce que nous avions dit il y a 4 ans: Le juge Gascon a cité le jugement précédent de la Cour d’appel du Québec, qui s’était prononcée en faveur d’une notion de «neutralité bienveillante» dans l’affaire Saguenay: Le devoir de neutralité doit être respecté d’une manière qui soit compatible avec le patrimoine et les traditions de la société et avec le devoir de l’État de préserver son histoire (par. 69). La protection de la diversité des croyances doit être réconciliée avec la réalité culturelle de la société, qui comprend son patrimoine religieux (par. 72). La cour du Québec a également conclu que l’impact sur la liberté de M. Simoneau, s’il y en avait un,...

Attacks at Places of Worship have no place in Canada or in any Civilized Society

by | Mar 22, 2019 | News

Toronto, ON March 22, 2019 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) notes with alarm and despair this morning’s knife attack of Father Claude Grou, rector of St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, while presiding at morning Mass. We pray for Father Grou’s quick recovery. The attacker appears to be known to police, and it is hoped that he is dealt with justly. Thankfully, the provisions of s. 176 of the Criminal Code remain in place, despite an effort in 2017 to have the charge of causing a disturbance in a religious service removed from the Criminal Code. Section 176 prohibits obstructing a minister who is performing a religious ceremony. It further prohibits disturbing an assembly and disturbing the order or solemnity of a meeting. It has been a week where a major armed attack occurred at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, where 50 people were killed, with scores of others injured. Canada has seen such a monstrous attack as recently as January 29, 2017, where six individuals were killed, and many more injured, at the Islamic Cultural Centre, in Quebec City. As we said in 2017, attacks at places of worship have no place in Canada or in any civilized society. We are especially distressed that such attacks in places of worship are increasing with alarm all across the world, as witnessed in every continent over the past few years. We extend heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims, and extend our prayers and condolences to our brothers and sisters of faith. Canadians of all religious perspectives stand together to oppose such wanton violence, and the distress it...

The CCRL Participates In Ontario Court of Appeal with Oral Arguments in Support of Physicians’ Conscience Rights

by | Jan 30, 2019 | Issues, News

Toronto, ON January 25, 2019 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) participated with oral arguments in the CMDS et al v. CPSO hearing at the Ontario Court of Appeal on January 21 and 22. Individual Catholic and Christian doctors and organizations had challenged the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), which over the course of the past three years had stipulated an “effective referral” regime, forcing Ontario doctors who objected to morally objectionable procedures to provide an “effective referral” to a willing doctor for such services.  Previously, doctors were relieved from any such obligation.  Ontario is the only provincial or territorial jurisdiction which has made such demands of its doctors. The Ontario Divisional Court had ruled in favour of the CPSO, on January 31, 2018, despite finding that the religious freedom of doctors had been infringed.  The appellants and the League, in conjunction with the Faith and Freedom Alliance and the Protection of Conscience Project, had argued that such “effective referrals” made objecting doctors complicit in the provision of the objectionable procedures, such as abortion, or assisted suicide.  The previous court decision allowed the infringement as a modest incursion into the rights of physicians, in the context of the ability of patients to access publicly available “services”.  Moreover, the court previously ruled that objecting physicians could re-arrange their practice specialties to “accommodate” such referrals. The doctors and their respective organizations appealed. In addition to the arguments presented by the lawyers for the appellants, the CCRL and its partners raised the particular arguments that such demands were in breach of the conscience rights of Ontario doctors, as...

No Victory in Government’s Re-Working of Canada Summer Jobs Application

by | Dec 7, 2018 | Issues, News

Toronto, ON December 7, 2018 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) responded today to the revised Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) application process, as announced by federal Labour minister Patty Hajdu. In brief, the new application process remains sadly deficient. The government has moved from an attestation requirement, or forced speech, by having to check a box in support of its views on “reproductive health”, which included unfettered access to abortion at all stages or its views on gender ideology, to a new requirement. It now seeks applicants to confirm that it will not engage in certain “proposed activities” in respect of otherwise legitimate beliefs with which the current government disagrees. The Minister’s new demands continue a suppression of viewpoints not shared by the government, for which funding will continue to be denied to groups that disagree. The federal Liberals are effectively establishing a “bubble zone” to prevent funding to organizations who do not share its unfettered pro-abortion position. The government maintains a false impression that there is a “right to safe and legal abortion”. It does not exist as part of either the Charter of Rights and Freedoms or in case law. While Labour minister Patty Hajdu proposed to accommodate faith-based groups, that accommodation effectively shuts out their core positions as unacceptable. This is no victory for the unborn. The government has simply changed the eligibility criteria so that organizations will be denied funding if they stand for prolife positions. The new wording of the 2019 application makes clear that grants will not be allocated if used to “undermine or restrict the exercise of rights legally protected in Canada.”...

Filmmaker Kevin Dunn is the CCRL’s Guest Speaker at our AGM on December 12, 2018 in Toronto

by | Nov 21, 2018 | Events, News

The following notice is of particular interest to those in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). On Wednesday, December 12, we will be having Mass at 6:30 pm in the Crypt Chapel of St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, 200 Church Street, M5B 1Z2. The CCRL’s Annual General Meeting will follow in the atrium.   Our guest speaker is Catholic filmmaker Kevin Dunn. Kevin Dunn is the director and producer of The Euthanasia Deception (2016). His most recent film is Fatal fLaws: Legalizing Assisted Death (2018).   Kevin Dunn’s presentation will include excerpts from both films. All are invited to this event. Please spread the word on social media and please inform your friends. Kindly RSVP at ccrl@ccrl.ca or by calling (416) 466-8244. We humbly ask a donation from those in attendance who are able to contribute. About the CCRL Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) (www.ccrl.ca) assists in creating conditions within which Catholic teachings can be better understood, cooperates with other organizations in defending civil rights in Canada, and opposes defamation and discrimination against Catholics on the basis of their beliefs. The CCRL was founded in 1985 as an independent lay organization with a large nationwide membership base. The CCRL is a Canadian non-profit organization entirely supported by the generosity of its members. To donate to the CCRL, please click here. For further information: Christian Domenic Elia, PhD CCRL Executive Director 416-466-8244...