Toronto, ON December 23, 2025 – In a tumultuous year, we count our blessings.
We are particularly blessed by the arrival of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago in a country town under authoritarian rule, born in meek surroundings, and soon required to escape into another occupied country, Egypt, to avoid persecution.
We enjoy relative comfort and have avoided war and violence to some extent, but we know that our true hope rests with Our Lord and Saviour, who delivered us from sin and death.
Let us pray that the peace of Christ will dispel the darkness and bring peace to our country and the world.
The availability of euthanasia, originally seen as modest access to such procedures on its introduction, has now been accessed by over 75,000 individuals since 2016, roughly 5 per cent of all deaths in Canada are now delivered by medical personnel.
Quebec began accepting advanced requests for assisted suicide in 2024, and according to the previous federal Minister of Health, the federal government has pledged not to stand in their way with criminal prosecutions.
Our federal election in 2025 delivered a near majority victory for Prime Minister Mark Carney. We are thankful that the proposed recommendations of the former Finance Committee to deny charitable status for pro life pregnancy centres or in support of religious entities did not find its way into the current budget.
But our federal leaders are seeking to deny religious defences to potential hate crime legislation, perhaps opening the door to activists who seek to deny speaking out on religious morality from faith leaders.
The Canadian Military Spiritual Reflection Policy has continued to advocate a further directive prohibiting military chaplains from invoking God at public military events.
The fallout continues from the May, 2021 allegation from the Kamloops residential school of a possible 215 children burial sites on its grounds. A national crisis followed.
There have been four excavations/exhumations in the past three years in 4 provinces, without any evidence of bodies buried, despite assurances from knowledge keepers of their existence. The RCMP has closed any investigations on these allegations in the absence of any evidence.
On the other hand, between 2010 and 2022, there have been a staggering 592 police-reported arsons at places of worship, including churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques, resulting in damages of at least $10,000 per occurrence, according to the response to an official inquiry released on September 16, 2024.
According to the report, the wave crested in 2021, jumping from 58 arsons in 2020 to 90 in 2021, following the announcement that the Kamloops allegations, dipping back down slightly to 74 in 2022.
Our Church Attacks database has tracked these crimes, receiving publicity in other countries.
The CCRL continues its advocacy on a number of fronts:
- Fr. Anthony Van Hee’s challenge to the Safe Access to Abortion Services Act;
- League President Phil Horgan will be representing the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in opposition to Quebec Bill 21 at hearings before the Supreme Court of Canada between March 23 and 27, 2026.
We know the ultimate victory has been won.
It is our prayerful wish that we find solace in the promises of Our Lord.
Please enjoy a joyous and peaceful Christmas.
Donate Now — Please visit https://ccrl.ca/support/ to contribute securely online.
We appeal to any of you who are able to send a donation to the CCRL by clicking here or by mailing a cheque to the CCRL at PO Box 84505, RPO Bloor West, Toronto, ON, M6S 4Z7, or by calling the office at (416) 466-8244.
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