Toronto, ON April 4, 2025 – As Canada approaches its next federal election, the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) is calling on all supporters and friends to take urgent action in response to a proposal that threatens the charitable status of religious organizations. This initiative, stemming from recommendations by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, specifically Recommendations 429 and 430, would severely impact faith-based charities across the country and diminish their ability to serve Canadian communities.
Recommendation 430 proposes revoking the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose.
Recommendation 429 proposes to deny charitable status for organizations that oppose abortion.
The Committee recommendations to the Minister of Finance have not yet been acted upon, so we must engage with all candidates in advance of the April 28 federal election.
These two recommendations are reminiscent of the Trudeau government’s previous imposition of ideological conformity through the Canada Summer Jobs Program, where organizations were required to attest support for abortion in order to receive funding—an action that the CCRL strongly opposed as a violation of conscience rights and freedom of religion.
The CCRL, consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church, affirms the sanctity of all human life from conception until natural death and stands firmly against any policy that penalizes charitable organizations for upholding this fundamental moral principle.
Both Recommendations pose serious threats to religion and charitable work in Canada, and the CCRL opposes them strongly.
The National Post highlighted the gravity of the issue in an article titled “Proposal to strip religious groups of charitable tax status would eviscerate Canada’s charities”. Father Raymond J. de Souza warned that revoking the charitable status of religious organizations would dismantle essential social services and charitable work.
The League has been vocal in its opposition to the recommendations. CCRL President Phil Horgan noted that the proposals could affect nearly 40,000 religious charities—representing approximately 30% of all charities in Canada. He emphasized that this move is part of a troubling trend of increasing restrictions on religious freedom in the public square.
We at the CCRL believe that stripping charitable status from religious organizations or pro-life organizations would unjustly penalize them for their beliefs and silence their ability to contribute to Canadian society. Faith-based charities provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, care for the vulnerable, and moral and spiritual formation for millions. Removing their charitable status would jeopardize all of this.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) echoed these concerns in a letter to the Finance Minister, warning that such a policy change would reduce donations and cripple the ability of faith-based organizations to serve their communities.
CCRL’s Call to Action
The CCRL is asking our supporters, friends, and all concerned Canadians to contact their local federal election candidates to determine their positions on these critical issues. Ask them directly:
- Do you support the continued recognition of religion as a basis for charitable status?
- Will you oppose any attempt to revoke charitable status based on a faith-based organization’s religious beliefs?
This election is a pivotal moment. The future of religious freedom and the provision of works for the public good in Canada are at stake.
We urge you to pose these two questions to your candidates, and please report their responses to us. We can hold candidates accountable based on their responses.
How to Find Your Local Candidates
To find out who your candidates are:
- Visit Elections Canada and enter your postal code.
- Access details about your riding and view a list of confirmed candidates (updated regularly as nominations are received until the final list is published on April 9)
By reaching out to your candidates, you can help ensure that religious organizations continue to serve Canadian communities without undue government interference.
Together, let us defend the role of faith in public life and protect the charitable status of religious organizations in Canada.
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