TORONTO, February 14, 2002 (LSN.ca) – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) in Canada has expressed concern over statements by the administration of the Canadian Alliance and Liberal Parties suggesting intolerance against religious and/or ethnic groups.
“In the Canadian Alliance, orthodox Jews, pro-life Catholics and evangelical Christians are alleged to be manipulating the party’s leadership race, to its detriment. In the federal Liberal party, a fight has broken out over the merits of soliciting members from particular ethnic or religious groups, as the party commissars decree such influence may be dangerous,” explained the CCRL in a recent release.
CCRL President Thomas Langan noted: “Although the League does not participate in partisan political intrigues, we take very seriously any attempt to limit the participation of citizens to the political process based on their religious beliefs. Our constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.”
He continued, “The discussion of fiscal and social issues in Canada would be improved if more people of faith took up an active role in political parties. In fact, people of faith are only responding to the contempt with which their views are treated by the chattering classes and the media elites in this country. Religious people have a good record in volunteer service. They remind the society of human dignity and love of neighbour. They bring basic moral discussions into debate. They recall to us the Constitution’s declaration, “God is Supreme.”
CCRL relates in their release: “The current Prime Minister has resorted to parachuting candidates in “troublesome” ridings where pro-life candidates sought nominations.” Asking, “Where were the advocates of inclusion when such anti-democratic measures were undertaken?”“Would these same concerns by secularists about religious or ethnic views be used to dissuade a Martin Luther King from joining a federal party in Canada. Do we not recognize the influence of strictly secular, or perhaps more accurately, atheist views have led to the removal of prayer from public schools, the removal of God from Parliament Hill prayer services, and an unfettered abortion regime, which leads to the destruction of one in four unborn babies in Canada, which people of faith are required to finance?”