What’s happening?
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and Cardinal Francis Leo of Toronto have publicly urged Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government not to remove a longstanding legal safeguard that protects religious expression in Canada’s hate-speech laws. (The Catholic Register)
The bishops wrote an open letter (published Dec. 4, 2025) expressing concern about a reported agreement between the Liberal Party and the Bloc Québécois to eliminate Section 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code—an exemption that currently protects “good-faith expressions or opinions based on religious texts” from prosecution under hate-speech provisions. (The Catholic Register)
Why this matters to them:
According to the CCCB, repealing this religious-text defence could have a “chilling effect” on faith communities. They argue it could create uncertainty for clergy, educators, and believers about whether sincere teachings of religious doctrine might be misinterpreted as unlawful hate speech and potentially lead to prosecution. (The Catholic Register)
What the bishops are asking for:
The bishops urged the government either to retain the current religious-text protection or, at minimum, to issue a clear public assurance that good-faith religious teaching, expression, and preaching will not be targeted under the law. They also call for broader consultation with religious leaders, legal experts, and civil-liberties groups before making changes affecting religious freedom. (The Catholic Register)
Political context:
This debate is tied to a larger piece of legislation—Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act—which is being amended in the House of Commons justice committee. A Bloc Québécois-backed amendment approved at committee would remove the religious-belief defence from the hate-speech law, a move that the bishops oppose. (The Catholic Register)
Some MPs, including Conservative representatives, have voiced support for the bishops’ concerns, while Liberal MPs have been navigating tensions over how to balance hate-speech enforcement with freedom of expression. (The Catholic Register)
Stay informed and contact your MP to let them know our concerns!
