Christians called to stand for religious freedom for all people
MONTREAL, QC—An Islamic youth conference made national headlines earlier this fall when the venue cancelled a week before the event.
As reported in the Toronto Star, the conference, which translates from French as "Between Heaven and Earth," was held for the first time in 2012 with the goal of bringing together young Muslims to exchange ideas and hear from internationally recognized religious speakers.
Between 1,000 and 2,000 people had been expected to attend this year's event in Montreal.
Palais des congres, the city's largest convention centre, cited security issues as reason it pulled out. The Parti Quebecois government had also asked Ottawa to block some of the conference's speakers—some who have spoken forcefully about women needing to wear the hijab—from entering the country.
Meanwhile the province is embroiled in debate over the government's controversial Charter of Values proposal, which centres around religious accommodation of minorities. It includes a ban on wearing visible religious symbols by public sector workers.
Janet Epp Buckingham, associate professor at Trinity Western University and a lawyer with expertise in religious freedom, says it is important for Christians to be aware of marginalization of religion in Canada, as well as internationally.
"I think we need to stand together, as the broader religious community, promoting religious freedom for everyone," she states. "In reality, Christians who take their faith seriously are a minority in Canada. It gives a stronger voice when all people who take their faith seriously have a common voice on the issue."
When Christians promote their own religious rights, but neglect the right of others, Buckingham says society views them with suspicion.
"If we say we believe in religious freedom, we need to put that into practice and support religious freedoms for other religious minorities, as well. It doesn't mean that we are agreeing with their religious beliefs, it simply means we are standing together for religious freedom."
However, Buckingham says she is impressed with how Christians have responded to Quebec's proposed Charter of Values, adding that Christian organizations have intervened in religious freedom cases in the past.
Don Hutchinson, vice president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), says the EFC makes a habit of doing just that. Along with other Christian organizations they have issued press releases, published articles and supported marginalized religious groups in cases before the Supreme Court.
"When we don't engage, the question becomes, 'is there a disconnect between what we believe and what we practice?' It's vitally important to realize that one of the great appeals of Canada is the freedom that is permitted. That's what we are known for so it's up to us to stand up and maintain it."
Buckingham says that responsibility is highlighted throughout Scripture.
"Biblically we have a responsibility to care for widows, orphans and [foreigners]. That means we are to ensure that those who are outside our community have the same benefits we have."
ChristianWeek attempted to contact organizers of the conference for comment, but received no reply.
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