Canadian Bishops’ Capitulation to Secular Hate-Speech Legislation
Catholic News Agency reports on December 8, 2025, that the Canadian Conference of Catholic “Bishops” (CCCB) and “Cardinal” Francis Leo petition Prime Minister Mark Carney to retain Section 319(3)(b) of Canada’s criminal code. This provision currently exempts “good-faith expressions or opinions based on religious texts” from hate-speech prosecution. The “bishops” warn that removal would create a “chilling effect on religious expression,” fearing clergy could face imprisonment for preaching doctrine. Conservative MP Andrew Lawton welcomed their stance, while Liberal MP Leslie Church accused opponents of “bad faith sabotage.” The Bloc Québécois demands removal of religious exemptions as part of Quebec’s secularist agenda, exemplified by Bill 9 banning prayers in public spaces.









