If the Canadian Catholic bishops had been more vigilant in Quebec, or challenged 'Catholic' leaders such as Trudeau and Carney when they have trespassed into areas contradicting Church teaching, they might not have had to write any letters at all. We must pray for Canada that this is not a matter of 'too little too late'.
Canadian Catholic bishops have written to the federal government to oppose elements of Bill C-9, which would remove long-standing religious and “good-faith” exemptions in the Criminal Code’s hate-speech provisions. They argue that without these protections, quoting religious texts such as the Bible in sincere, non-malicious contexts might be seen as hate speech, creating uncertainty for clergy and faith communities. The bishops warn that removing the exemption could chill legitimate religious expression, even if actual prosecutions remain unlikely. The surrounding commentary criticizes the Liberal government and Bloc Québécois for supporting the change.
It's good that the bishops of Canada have spoken to defend religious freedom and the quoting of the Bible without fear of it being an act "hate speech." Let's hope it's not a case of too little too late.