Faith Today - May/June 2015

The judge concluded that learning in a Christian environment is an expression of religious freedom.

It’s been a busy year so far for eligious freedom issues at Canadian courts, including two decisionsbythe Supreme Court of Canada. Each of these court decisions gives more definition to how the courts understand religious freedom and the intersection of religion and public life. Two focused specifically on the freedoms of religious communities and the important role communities play in the expression of religion.

The Supreme Court of Nova
Scotia strongly affirmed the free-
dom of religious organizations to
maintain their religious identity
and serve the public good in its
judgment on the Nova Scotia Bar-
risters’ Society policy to refuse any
law students with degrees from
Trinity Western University’s (TWU)
proposed law school.

The Barristers’ Society objects to
TWU’s Community Covenant,
which sets out what it means to
work and study in this Christian
educational community. TWU
students are asked to adhere to a
code of behaviour in keeping with
the religious vision of life that ani-
mates the university. The covenant
prohibits sexual intimacy outside
of marriage between a man and a
woman. Harassment, bullying and
disrespectful behaviour for any
reason, including sexual orienta-
tion, also violate the covenant.
The judge in the case noted there
was no evidence TWU graduates
would not be properly qualified to
practise law, nor that they would be
more likely to discriminate on the
basis of sexual orientation than
graduates of other law schools. The
TWU Covenant breaks no laws or
human rights legislation in B.C., and
the judge concluded that learning in
a Christian environment is an ex-
pression of religious freedom. “Re-
quiring a person to give up that right
in order to get his or her profession-
al education recognized is an in-
fringement of religious freedom.”

Saguenay case decided

A Supreme Court decision in
April in the Saguenay case
considered the place for religious
observance in state-sponsored
events and gatherings. Details,
including an introduction to the
case in everyday language by EFC
President Bruce J. Clemenger, at
www.theEFC.ca/Saguenay.

Religious freedom
affirmed in Loyola case

A Supreme Court decision in March in the Loyola High School case is good news for faith-based schools and also churches and other religious ministries. The case, including a legal intervention by the EFC, considered whether private religious schools can be compelled to teach a provincial religion and ethics curriculum from a nonreligious perspective.

The result is a “strong affirmation of religious freedom,” says EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger.

Read his thoughts on what it all means for Canadian Christians at www.theEFC.ca/ LoyolaCommentary.

Doctors’ freedom of
conscience to go to court

Please pray for the Christian Medical and Dental Society, an EFC affiliate ministry organization, which announced in March it is going to court to defend the conscience rights of medical professionals. Details at www.cmdscanada.org.

Freedom of conscience is being challenged by medical bodies in Saskatchewan and Ontario, which have developed policies that require doctors to provide referrals, and in some situations undertake procedures, that might violate their conscience and/or religious beliefs.

The EFC argues that doctors who don’t offer certain procedures are not discriminating as long as all patients are treated the same.

Responding to changes
in sex education

Ontario released its new Health and Physical Education curriculum in February, which outlines a new sexual education component for the province’s public and Catholic schools, to be implemented in September. The EFC offers a webpage of advice, sample letters and other resources on this issue at www. theEFC.ca/OntarioPE2015.

EFC denominational
leaders meet

Leaders of EFC affiliate denominations ( www.theEFC.ca/ denominations ) met in April. These peer-led meetings, which include EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger, are held twice a year to discuss common concerns and make time to pray together.