In the constitution of a democratic state, for us, the fundamental principle is the guarantee of freedom of conscience and freedom of expression for all citizens. The concept of secularism is a means of ensuring these freedoms.
It should not limit them more than necessary.
As a Church, we fully understand and support the concept of secularism.
It is a guarantee of respect for everyone, regardless of their beliefs, cultural backgrounds or identities. In fact, as a Church, we do everything we can to live out the same principles of respect and freedom within our own faith communities, as inclusion is a core value for the United Church of Canada (gender equality, full acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, anti-racism policy, etc.).
In Quebec society, there is currently a debate about how to live secularism. If we accept that our society today is pluralistic, with the presence of diverse groups, we want an ‘open’ secularism that does not hide differences, but makes room for different voices to allow for open dialogue. This seems to us to be the only viable model for building a strong society together, where everyone feels accepted and can give their best. A debate on values and the common good is necessary. A thorough understanding of different worldviews, including religious perspectives, enriches citizens’ discernment and choices.
We are concerned about the rhetoric and approach of politicians who want to ban all religious expression from the public sphere. A distinction must be made between state services and representations and public spaces, which must be shared by diverse groups in society.
A distinction must also be made between different religious movements. By this, we do not mean that different values can be assigned to the major religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddhism, for example. All major religions in their authentic form convey great wisdom and promote peaceful coexistence. They express this through different prisms depending on their specific history and culture. There has always been a debate about the relationship between political organization and religious message. It is therefore important to distinguish between radicalized minority movements that oppose a free and pluralistic society and the majority of believers who support society in a positive way through their values and contributions. The voices and actions of fundamentalist or radical religious groups are often portrayed as representative of religion as a whole. This is a gross caricature. As a result, all religious expression is discredited, and we hear proposals to eliminate all manifestations of religion from the public sphere. In our view, this is the wrong approach. Relegating religious life solely to the private sphere, with as little visibility as possible, deprives society as a whole of the valuable contribution of people of good will who promote and share the values of respect, civility, solidarity and mutual aid.
We are convinced that pluralism in our society encourages not only good neighbourliness but also learning from one another. If we can live this out in a transparent way, we will avoid the alienation of groups that are pushed to the margins. The danger of ‘suppressing’ religious expression as much as possible is that it creates fertile ground for clandestine and extremist groups. Sociological research shows that a large proportion of Quebecers are still searching for meaning and spirituality. Open and transparent dialogue is therefore essential in a democracy. Openness to a plurality of rituals and spiritual beliefs allows us to agree on the best values and ethics for the common good.
We invite the Government of Quebec to strengthen religious groups’ sense of belonging to Quebec society and to further encourage their positive support for society. This will enable future generations to learn healthy ways of experiencing spirituality and to learn the meaning of community where everyone is interconnected.
For a society that is open to the world, we must create opportunities for dialogue and build bridges between diverse groups so that they can collaborate. Accepting and integrating religious voices into public debate is both responsible and essential in today’s world. We must be proactive in countering polarization and radicalization.
Link to the original post: https://nakonhakaucc.ca/fr/2025/12/09/reponse-du-conseil-regional-nakonhaka-regional-council-couvrant-la-province-du-quebec-de-leglise-unie-du-canada-a-la-consultation-sur-le-respect-des-principes-de-la-loi-sur-la-laicite-de-l/
[1] An example of the positive integration of the Christian voice in the construction of society comes from Germany, where, after the terrible experience of the Nazi regime, Christians created a movement called the ‘Kirchentag’ to engage in public debate with political and economic decision-makers once a year on societal issues. The Protestant and Catholic churches take turns planning a major multi-day gathering (100,000 participants in Hanover in May 2025) to enable dialogue in the public sphere on issues of justice, peace, ecology and living together.
Recent Comments