A piece of Canadian legislation, Bill C-367, will reportedly criminalize Christianity by considering some biblical prayers and passages “hate speech.”
Under the current code, a “good faith” defense protects an individual if the speech in question is considered “hateful.” A person will not be convicted of an offense “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.”
Bill C-367 removes the “good faith” defense.”
According to political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, Bill C-367 “could land Christians in jail for quoting the Bible or expressing a faith based opinion if the Canadian government deems it “promotion of hatred or antisemitism.”
🇨🇦 Christian persecution is about to be introduced in Canada:
— Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) February 22, 2024
If passed, Bill C-367 could land Christians in jail for quoting the Bible or expressing a faith based opinion if the Canadian government deems it “promotion of hatred or antisemitism”.
This is an absolute disgrace. pic.twitter.com/Bq8zT8N3J9
A summary of the bill reads, “This enactment amends the Criminal Code to eliminate as a defence against wilful promotion of hatred or antisemitism the fact that a person, in good faith, 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.”
Joseph Boot, the president of the evangelical think tank Ezra Institute, shared his concern for the bill on X.
“Warning! Canada’s Bill C-367 to repeal Section 319(3)(b) of Criminal Code – a protection against “Public Incitement of Hatred” if established upon “… opinion on a religious subject or belief in a religious text;” Enforcement of this & related legislation (Bill C4) is coming,” he wrote.
“It’s passed a first reading. If ratified, Canada’s anti-Christian legal apparatus created over the last decade will overtly persecute Christians with the force of criminal law. Everything is already in place. Buckle up.”
One of the bill’s sponsors, Sylvie Bérubé, said in a news release, “It is quite sad that some people use their position of influence, religious or civil, even impunity conferred to them, to incite violence and hatred.” She added that the bill “is about preserving peace of mind amongst Quebecois and Canadians and all communities that hateful words that incite violence should never be protected by the Criminal Code.”
