How the Canada Summer Jobs program became a freedom-of-religion controversy

There’s an article published on the National Post website that supplies a ‘play-by-play’ analysis of how we have come to the situation which led to my recent foray into the public forum. I bring to your attention the paragraph posted below this commentary. It should explain why I decided we had nothing to lose by my speaking out. When I read ‘(N)o such organization will receive funding from any constituencies represented by Liberal MPs.’, there really was no other option. Who knew that we would be punished for voting in a member of the government’s party in the last election? Evidently, he represents a party that has no comprehension of the concept of respecting ‘issues of conscience’.

'The story was picked up by iPolitics in April 2017 and, in response, Employment Minister Patty Hajdu’s office put out a statement that said: “Any funding provided to an organization that works to limit women’s reproductive rights last summer was an oversight … That’s why this year we fixed the issue and no such organizations will receive funding from any constituencies represented by Liberal MPs.”'

I trust people understand that other than the moral issue, I have no interest in the politics of the situation. No doubt it is difficult for Liberal MP's across the country who have to deal with the fallout from this crisis. I believe that William Amos would much prefer to be handing out summer student grants to churches and religious groups as he has done the past two summers, but he is caught in a situation of his own party's making. I wish him luck if he is able to change its mind on this issue and remove this ill-thought-out obligation to profess one's support for abortion rights as a condition of application.This said, there's no chance in hell of proceeding peaceably and participating in the Student job program unless this stupid decision to demand an attestation is reversed. I can see no way that a Catholic priest would ever be able to 'tick off' that box without running a very considerable risk of 'ticking-off' the ultimate boss who commanded us to love Him and neighbour, from the pre-born to the naturally deceased. I know that can't... and I won't.


How the Canada Summer Jobs program became a freedom-of-religion controversy | National Post