Dear friends,
As I sit with my morning coffee and open the Scriptures, my heart overflows with thanksgiving to God for the blessings we enjoy here in Canada. In a world where many of our brothers and sisters face imprisonment simply for sharing the hope of Christ, we can still gather to worship, pray, and speak openly about our faith. Just recently, the story of Augustinos Samaan, an Egyptian Christian YouTuber sentenced to years of hard labor for defending Christianity online, reminded me how precious this freedom truly is. In nations where one religion dominates and blasphemy laws silence minority voices, there is often no room for the Gospel to be shared in peace.
How my heart praises God that we live in a country that still upholds greater liberty!
Yet even here, we must stay watchful and prayerful. Bill C-9, now passed into law as the Combatting Hate Act, is one of those measures worth understanding with open eyes and discerning hearts. Let me share what I’ve learned in simple terms, not to criticize, but to raise awareness so we can walk wisely as Christians and Catholics in these times.
What Bill C-9 Aims to Do
At its heart, the law seeks to protect people from real hate and harm. It strengthens rules against intimidating or blocking others from attending places of worship, schools, or community centres. It also addresses hate symbols and hate-motivated crimes. In a country as diverse as ours, these protections matter—especially for religious communities that have faced challenges.
The Part That Raises Gentle Concern
The area many faithful Canadians are reflecting on is how the law touches religious speech. Previously, there was a clear safeguard in our Criminal Code: a “good faith religious opinion” defence. This protected pastors, priests, teachers, and everyday believers when they shared what Scripture says—even on difficult topics—without fear of being accused of “promoting hatred.”
Bill C-9 removes that specific defence. The definition of “hatred” has also been described in broader terms. The government assures us that peaceful preaching, Bible teaching, prayer, and sharing our beliefs in good faith are still protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Courts have set a high bar: speech must show clear intent to wilfully stir up hatred, not simply express traditional Christian teaching.
A simple example: Imagine a pastor or a Catholic writer reflecting on Scripture passages about holy living, marriage, or sexuality. In the past, the religious defence made it clearer this was protected expression of faith. Now, without that explicit shield, there is a little more uncertainty. In diverse neighbourhoods, sharing biblical views on sensitive topics can sometimes lead to complaints or public pushback.
As Catholics, many of us approach these matters with mercy and personal discernment. We are called to love every person as made in God’s image, while upholding the Church’s teachings. We do not stand in judgment of souls—that belongs to the Lord alone. Yet we also value the freedom to teach truth with charity.
Why This Matters for All of Us
This law does not mean pastors will be jailed for preaching the Gospel. Canada is still a far cry from countries where sharing faith brings hard labor. But it invites us to be more thoughtful:
• Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
• Pray for wisdom and courage.
• Support one another when misunderstandings arise.
• Engage our neighbours with the kindness of Christ.
I am choosing gratitude today. Gratitude that we can still write blogs, post devotionals, create children’s books with faith-filled messages, and gather in prayer without fear of imprisonment. Gratitude for the Holy Spirit who guides us through grey areas with discernment.
Let us continue to shine our light gently yet faithfully. May we pray for religious freedom around the world—for Augustinos and so many others—and for Canada to remain a place where all believers can worship and witness in peace.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
And blessed are we who live in freedom—may we use it well for God’s glory.
In His joy and peace,
Linda 🙏❤️
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