This is outrageous! It is enough to make me go back to church -- any Christian church. I support the existence of them for the good of society. I think churches are a force for good -- not least because children must be taught an ethical framework and they need fear of something beyond themselves -- until they develop into reasoning citizens who behave ethically because it is civilized. It makes sense -- even without a God. For those who can be helped by belief and a church, I have no problem, and this politically correct attitude is beyond the pale -- especially in the face of so much Muslim violence. Why are we respectful of their beliefs when they do not respect those of the West?
Christianity is what spurred much of Western civilization and certainly its tolerance. I am furious that this government operates against the good of society and against the wishes of many Canadians -- and must this be tolerated? It is time for the new Conservative Party to voice the feelings of those of us who see society being harmed by this so-called tolerance which really amounts to tolerance for all religious beliefs except Christianity. It must become part of our policy platform that we support Christianity in Canada and those who come here had better learn a bit of tolerance themselves.
SASKATOON -- Although told to keep religion out of it, a Saskatoon member of Parliament and onetime evangelical minister said he does not intend on altering his remarks for upcoming Citizenship and Immigration Canada welcome ceremonies.
Scheduled for Dec. 11 and 15 in Saskatoon, the two ceremonies will see more than 200 people from around the world officially presented Canadian citizenship.
While the ceremonies were being planned last week, a staff member of Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon-Wanuskewin) was told by a CIC program support assistant in an e-mail "there cannot be any referral to God or the Bible in his speech."
[. . . .]
Mr. Vellacott e-mailed the CIC and asked them to produce the no-religion guideline in writing.
The CIC responded by referring him to the 65-page CIC Guide to Citizenship Ceremonies.
One of the pages reads "remarks, either formal or informal, that reflect on a particular culture, religious belief, or nationality are out of place at a citizenship ceremony."
Mr. Vellacott, who notes there are references to God in O Canada and the Charter of Rights, both of which are part of the ceremony, said mentioning God in his Titanic story is no worse.
"It's appropriate. It's tasteful on the occasion. It's normal and natural, as I relate the story, to remark in respect of the providence of God," he said. "I have no intent to be deleting or purging out references to God in those brief speeches."
CIC spokesman Jean-Pierre Morin said Canada has to be respectful when welcoming people from different cultural backgrounds.
