BIBLICAL Speech BANNED – Pastors Face Prosecution

Canada’s liberal government has stripped away crucial religious freedom protections, opening the door for biblical scripture to be prosecuted as hate speech under new legislation.

Story Snapshot

Canadian committee removes “good faith religious belief defense” from hate crime bill
Bloc Québécois-Liberal alliance pushes through amendment without Prime Minister approval
Christian organizations warn pastors could face prosecution for quoting scripture
Government positioning itself as arbiter of acceptable religious expression

Religious Defense Stripped from Hate Crime Bill

On December 9, 2025, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights approved a Bloc Québécois amendment removing Section 319(3)’s “good faith religious belief defense” from Bill C-9, the “Combatting Hate Act.” This defense has long protected expressions of religious opinions or beliefs based on religious texts from hate crime charges when made in good faith. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada immediately warned this creates a “disturbing debate” around whether biblical texts constitute hate speech.

The amendment passed through a Bloc Québécois-Liberal alliance announced December 1, 2025, notably without Prime Minister’s Office approval. This procedural maneuver reflects Quebec’s secularist influences gaining ground in Canada’s minority Parliament, where the Liberal government depends on Bloc support for legislative victories. The timing raises concerns about backdoor policy changes affecting fundamental religious freedoms across the nation.

Christian Organizations Sound Constitutional Alarm

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Canadian Council of Christian Charities have united in opposition, warning the amendment undermines Charter of Rights and Freedoms protections. These organizations fear pastors and religious leaders quoting biblical passages on topics like sexuality could face criminal prosecution. The EFC specifically noted committee debates questioning whether biblical texts are “hateful,” signaling government overreach into religious doctrine and scriptural interpretation.

Christian advocacy groups lobbied committee members extensively through meetings, submissions, and alerts to affiliates, but lacked veto power against the Bloc-Liberal alliance. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued media releases opposing Bill C-9’s restrictions on religious freedom, while the Canadian Council of Christian Charities analyzed risks to religious expression under the amended hate laws, concluding the changes endanger biblical teaching without enhancing hate protections.

Government Expands Authority Over Religious Expression

Bill C-9 originated from rising antisemitism concerns within Jewish communities, but the religious defense removal represents a significant expansion beyond its original scope. The amendment transforms government into the arbiter of “good faith” religious expression, creating chilled speech effects where churches and religious organizations may self-censor biblical teachings to avoid legal scrutiny. Courts previously upheld the defense only for honest belief while rejecting its use to shield willful hate promotion.

The bill now returns to the House of Commons and Senate for final debate, with the defense removal being a late addition not included in the original legislation. Religious freedom advocates anticipate the amendment will become law given the Bloc-Liberal alliance’s parliamentary strength. This represents a fundamental shift in Canadian religious liberty, potentially criminalizing scriptural quotations that government officials deem problematic, regardless of theological context or pastoral intent.