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Canada’s latest legislation is raising alarms among Christians and free speech advocates, as a new “hate speech” bill could open the door to criminalizing biblical truth. And while some may dismiss this as a problem exclusive to Canada, a recent article from The Federalist shows this restriction of religious freedom may soon become reality in America as well.
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From The Federalist:
Canada’s dominant Liberal Party has introduced legislation that may soon make Christian speech illegal.
In March, the Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-9, also known as the “Combatting Hate Act.” The bill was introduced under the guise of mitigating antisemitic attacks in the wake of Hamas’ violent attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Liberals claimed it was developed to protect religious communities, but C-9 eagerly expanded to prohibit public displays of “hate,” including “Islamophobia, homophobia, and transphobia.”
C-9 intentionally uses vague language, allowing “hatred” to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Canada’s DOJ has admitted as much, stating, “The penalty for the new hate crime offence would reflect the harm caused by the illegal act.” Under C-9’s broad definitions, public prayers and Bible recitation could conceivably be prosecuted as criminal offenses if they’re determined to be “hateful.” Violators could face up to a decade behind bars.
This legislation raises serious concerns about how “hate” is being defined and enforced. When laws rely on vague and subjective standards, they create the potential for uneven application and targeted enforcement. In this case, that ambiguity could place Christians and other people of faith at risk of legal consequences simply for expressing their beliefs.
The removal of longstanding religious protections makes the situation even more concerning. Previous safeguards allowed individuals to express opinions rooted in Scripture in good faith, but this bill appears to weaken or eliminate those protections. Without them, the line between lawful expression and criminal speech becomes increasingly unclear.
Similar debates have emerged in the United States. Last year, for example, both California and New York attempted to pass (or, in New York’s case, passed) legislation forcing social media companies to restrict “hate speech.” As intercessors know, laws restricting so-called “hate speech” are often using to suppress biblical truth about issues such as homosexuality and transgenderism. Furthermore, as The Federalist points out, during the COVID-19 pandemic, several states forced churches to shut their doors. Christians in Florida and Idaho, for example, were arrested simply for choosing to worship God.
This moment matters because it highlights how quickly freedoms can shift when laws are redefined. These challenges may be confined to our northern neighbor today, but tomorrow they may end up on our doorstep (or in our Capitol). Pray that leaders would uphold our crucial First Amendment rights, and that attempts to suppress faith would be exposed and restrained.
Leave a prayer below for Canada, the United States, and the protection of religious liberty below.
(Excerpt from The Federalist. Photo Credit: seechung/Getty Images)
