Toronto, ON December 10, 2025 – The Catholic Civil Rights League seeks to raise alarm over the apparent agreement between the governing Liberal Party and the Bloc Québécois which provides for the passage of Bill C-9, which will seriously affect religious freedom of expression by denying a good faith defence arising from reliance upon religious texts or scriptural references.
The deal appears to remove religious exemptions from Canada’s hate-speech laws in exchange for support to help pass the government’s bill targeting hate and terror symbols.
The CCRL deplores expressions of hate and anti-semitism, but our concerns extend to religious expressions which may be opposed despite being based on Church teachings on sexual morality.
Other provisions of the bill would amend definitions used for hate speech are also of concern.
Most significantly, the proposed removal of the safeguard in the existing legislation requiring leave of a provincial Attorney General to proceed with a hate crime charge will likely result in spurious or targeted attacks on individuals expressing Christian moral teachings.
The CCRL, together with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, finds these developments may create a climate of fear for good faith expressions of religious belief, and expose church and faith leaders to criminal charges by anyone seeking to pursue a charge to advance a non-religious viewpoint.
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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:
ccrl@ccrl.ca
416-466-8244
@CCRLtweets