Canadian Gov’t Demonizes the Bible As “Hateful” Revoking Long-Standing Religious Exemption

Despite outcry from Church leaders and Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs), the Canadian Parliament last week passed an alarming amendment to remove long-standing religious protections from the country’s hate speech laws.

The ruling Liberal Party joined the Bloc Québécois in voting to approve the amendment, which removed text from the Canadian Criminal Code regarding hate crimes.  The now-deleted text provided a religious exemption: “if, in good faith, the person expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text.”

Opposition voices expressed urgent concern that the passing of Bill C-9 would open the door for the government to trample on religious freedom and even criminalize portions of the Bible as hate speech.

The intentions of Bloc Québécois and the Liberal Government in making these changes were put on full display after MP Marc Miller publicly chastised the Bible.  While claiming himself to be a “man of faith,” Miller insisted that multiple books contained in God’s Word are “homophobic,” stating that sharing certain passages should be considered “hate speech” under the law.  “In Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Romans – there’s other passages – there is clear hatred towards, for example, homosexuals … I mean, clearly there are situations in these texts where these statements are hateful. They should not be used to invoke or be a defense,” Miller stated at a Justice Committee meeting on Bill C-9.

Conservative MPs were quick to condemn Miller’s statements, explaining that his call to criminalize Biblical texts—simply because the Liberal Party finds them offensive—showcases that the “devil is in the details” of C-9.

Instead of condemning Miller’s remarks, the Liberal government showed its approval by promoting him to the position of Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.

Another MP sparked outrage for his disturbing argument in favor of Bill C-9.  Martin Champoux from Bloc Québécois stated that the religious exemption must be removed from the hate speech, presenting a fictitious example of a Pastor “hatefully” interpreting the Bible and telling his congregation to “cut the throats of homosexuals.”  Champoux’s remarks were rightfully denounced by conservatives as a “disgusting misrepresentation” of both the Bible and Christian belief.

A Response to Antisemitism?

Bill C-9, among other things, was framed by Bloc Québécois and the Liberal Party as a way of combating the out-of-control antisemitism within the nation.  Muslims perpetrate a vast majority of the Jew-hatred emerging in the West, and it can be easily agreed that Islam cannot be a legal cloak for targeting Jews.  For that reason, many Jewish groups were eager to lend support.  However, Bill C-9’s supposed benefits to countering Islamic hatred and calls for violence against Jews are far outweighed by the danger it poses to religious freedom as a whole, especially given the brazen hostility of Liberals toward Christians and Jews.

The Jewish organizations applauding the move have failed to recognize that the change would also place Jewish freedom in the crosshairs of the government, a concern further illuminated by the Liberal Party’s open contempt for the Jewish State of Israel.

Roman Baber, a Jewish MP from the Conservative Party, saw through the ruse, emphasizing the Liberal Government’s near-decade-long refusal to pass legislation targeting the real problem.  “Almost every witness we heard from at the justice committee said that the Liberals missed the point and that what they should have done is criminalize the willful promotion of terrorism.  That is what we are seeing on Canada’s streets,” he underscored.  “During the previous Conservative government, we had a law that criminalized the glorification of terrorism, but Justin Trudeau and his minions, in 2017, repealed Bill C-51.  Instead, what we have going on right now is folks in my riding dressing like Yahya Sinwar, the worst murderer of Jews since the Holocaust, who is being glorified and celebrated.”  “If they actually want to do something about this, if they want to do something about what is happening on Canada’s streets, what is happening in my riding, which is one of the most Jewish ridings in the country, they should pass my PMB, Bill C-257, and criminalize the willful promotion of terrorism, terrorist activity, or terrorist groups,” Baber urged.

The MP went on to powerfully use his own story of growing up in the USSR to highlight the danger of the legislation.  “I first realized that I was of the Jewish faith when I was four or five,” he began.  “It was on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  I walked into my grandparents’ bedroom, as I was raised by my grandparents, and I saw my grandpa reading a Siddur, a Jewish prayer book.  This would have been in 1984 or 1985.  Even then, despite Gorbachev’s glasnost and, arguably, perestroika, if a Soviet resident was found with a Jewish prayer book, they could potentially be looking at a labor camp for three to five years.  That was one of my first memories.” 

“I cannot believe that I am sitting in the House right now after hearing the member, who is the Canadian identity and culture minister, essentially suggest that reciting parts of the Bible could somehow be criminalized, almost like a strict liability offence.  I cannot fathom that,” Baber stressed.  “It is as if we were back in the U.S.S.R.”

“I had a considerable discussion with my friend about it the other week, about how we were taught that we should avoid certain topics.  Certain topics were taboo.  We were not allowed to discuss the West. We were not allowed to use the word ‘America.’  We were not allowed to use the word ‘Israel.’  We were not allowed to point out that there is no bread, jeans, or eggs in the store.  That was because the only religion allowed was Communism,” he explained.  “When my friend from Bowmanville—Oshawa North talks about Liberal colonialism, that is exactly what it is.  It is Liberal dictatorship of our freedom of thought.  There are no other thoughts allowed, other than Liberal thought.”

The Response of Churches

Pastors in both Canada and the United States have decried the passing of Bill C-9.

“Who would have thought liberal Canada would become a state-run society governing the thoughts, ideas, and intents of people’s hearts?”  Minnesota Pastor Mark Henry remarked during his Sunday service.  “Do you realize that if you read Romans chapter 1, where it talks about homosexuality, or Genesis 19, that for each of those offenses, you would get charged right now a $50,000 fine in Canada?”

Warning that America is on the same trajectory as its neighbor to the north, Henry explained the contents of the Bill and played Marc Miller’s anti-Bible statements for his congregation.  The pastor also led his church in a prayer for Canada.  “By God’s grace, it hasn’t happened here, but that’s the trajectory we’re on,” he cautioned.  “And so, we need to pray for Canada, and we need to pray for the pastors who are there.”  Henry described the influx of texts he received from Canadian pastors following Bill C-9’s approval, with many reiterating their determination not to allow the move to stifle their preaching of God’s Word.

Justin Hickey, pastor of Calvary Chapel London in Ontario, Canada, discussed the passing of the amendment, imploring Canadian Christians to recognize the Bill as part of a broader spiritual battle.  “[Bill C-9] really is a needless thing for them to do because it doesn’t actually protect any Canadians,” he noted.  “All it does is present an opportunity for the enemies of the church, and, for that matter, any faith, to try to weaponize the ambiguity that is within this new amendment … It doesn’t do much for safety.  It does everything in its power to limit and restrict free speech.”

“What does this mean for us?” Hickey continued.  “What are we going to do differently? Well, nothing. We’re not going to change just because our government is like the shifting sands that Jesus told us about.  We’re not going to shift with them.  We’re going to remain unmoved.  Built on the rock, so when the storms rage, and they blow against our house, it will not be shaken.  Nothing is going to change.”

“Remember, people are coming to know the Lord.  Bible sales are up.  Church attendance is up.  So don’t think for a moment that this is just a coincidence.  Whenever the Lord is moving, you need to anticipate a counterpunch,” the pastor highlighted.  “I mean, the Lord’s got the devil on the ropes.  You don’t think he’s going to try to throw a left hook?  And here’s the left hook.”

Hickey reminded his congregation that persecution often has the opposite effect of what Satan intends, resulting in a strengthened, rather than weakened, church.  “This could be the best thing that has ever happened to the church.  It could be,” he explained. “Remember in the early church, when Satan tried to deal with them, and he tried to stomp out their fire?  When he began to stomp out the fire in Jerusalem, it didn’t put it out.  What did it do?  It spread the embers of that fire around the whole world. I mean, it did the exact opposite of what the devil wanted to do.  Whenever persecution comes, the church always grows.”

“We need to remind ourselves of what Jesus said, ‘I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it,’” Hickey emphasized.  “We need to keep pushing forward. We need to keep advancing, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.  Folks, we’re in a spiritual battle, and we cannot forget that.  You can see Satan in his scheme.”

Hickey also noted that Bill C-9 is simply the latest attack on Biblical truth in the nation, pointing to the overreaching COVID regulations and passing of the “conversion therapy ban.”

The Criminalization of Biblical Sexuality

As with many nations, Church services were halted during the COVID pandemic. However, Canada raised eyebrows internationally for the severe enforcement of the regulation, which included the jailing of multiple pastors across the nation.

Then in 2022, the Canadian Parliament unanimously passed a “Conversion therapy ban,” a law which effectively criminalized the discussion or preaching of Biblical sexuality. God’s design for marriage to be between one man and one woman was demonized in the law as a “myth.”

The Sunday after the law went into effect, thousands of pastors—in Canada and the United States—participated in “Biblical Sexuality Sunday,” conducting messages teaching congregations what the Bible says about marriage, sexuality, and gender—sermons which were now a criminal offence under the law.

“Biblical Sexuality Sunday” was spearheaded by James Coates, the first Pastor to be arrested under the strict COVID regulations in 2021.  Harbinger’s Daily also played a role, reaching out to pastors in Canada to inform them about the Conversion therapy ban and its ramifications, as well as the pastoral response through “Biblical Sexuality Sunday.”

The Island nation of Malta was the first to enact a “conversion therapy ban” in 2016; since then, multiple nations have adopted similar bans, modeling them after the law in Malta.  Each nation insisted during the debate process that church leaders were exaggerating the danger the law poses to religious liberty, asserting that the ban would not be used to criminalize the Bible or Christian speech.  That claim was shattered in 2022 when Matthew Grech was criminally charged under Malta’s “conversion therapy” law for publicly sharing his testimony in an interview, recounting how he left the homosexual lifestyle to follow Christ.  His legal battle remains ongoing, with prosecutors continuing to pursue fines and jail time for Grech’s offense—sharing his story of transformation through the Gospel.

Grech’s case demonstrates the danger to religious liberty posed by “conversion therapy bans” and Canada’s latest revision to “hate speech” laws.  While these changes to the criminal code may remain dormant for years, not being used to target the church, at any point in time, they can suddenly be mobilized to their full extent to attack the freedoms of Christians.

Pastor Hickey addressed that worry among many Christians following the passing of Bill C-9, encouraging the church to continue forward with strength.  “There’s nothing wrong with wanting a peaceful life.  We should be praying for that, but we weren’t promised that,” he underscored.  “In fact, quite the opposite has been promised to us if we want to live godly lives.  So for some, the news is devastating, especially when we’ve been praying against it, signing petitions, calling or writing our MPs.  It’s only natural to feel defeated in the moment. But this isn’t the time to stop praying.  In fact, it’s time to press in.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel