The clarification follows concerns raised by Catholic and Christian communities after the Sept. 19 news release introducing the bill omitted mention of Christianity.
Newsroom (27/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) The Department of Justice has confirmed that Catholic and Christian houses of worship will be protected under the religious building provisions of The Combatting Hate Act, Bill C-9, should it become law. The legislation aims to strengthen safeguards against hate-motivated crimes targeting places of worship, schools, community centers, and other spaces used by recognizable groups.
“Canada will not tolerate anyone being made to feel afraid because of who they are, how they worship, or where they gather,” said Kwame Bonsu, spokesperson for the Department of Justice. “The proposed Combatting Hate Act would amend the Criminal Code to better protect access to places of worship, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or other places of worship, as well as schools, community centres, and other specified places. If passed, this legislation would more clearly address and denounce hate-motivated crime and apply to everyone in Canada.”
Bill C-9 proposes several amendments to the Criminal Code, including establishing a specific offense for hate-motivated crimes, making it a felony to deliberately intimidate or obstruct access to designated spaces like places of worship, and criminalizing the public display of certain terrorism or hate symbols. The legislation also seeks to streamline prosecutions by removing the requirement for Attorney General consent in such cases.
The clarification from the Department of Justice follows concerns raised by Catholic and Christian communities after the Sept. 19 news release introducing the bill omitted mention of Christianity. The release highlighted rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and transphobia but did not explicitly reference attacks on Christian communities. Catholic Civil Rights League president and general counsel noted this oversight in an interview with The Catholic Register before the bill’s second reading.
During the House of Commons debate on Sept. 24, Conservative MP Larry Brock (Brantford-Brant) addressed the omission directly. “Let us not forget that there is absolutely zero reference to Christianity,” Brock said. “Christianity is under attack in this country.” He cited the burning of 33 Christian churches between May 2021 and December 2023, with most cases attributed to arson, and noted that an additional 85 Christian parishes have been desecrated over the past four years, many following unverified claims about graves at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
Brock’s remarks drew an audible reaction from an unnamed MP, recorded in the official transcript as “oh, oh!” Brock responded, “Madam Speaker, I do not know what was funny about Christianity being under attack, but nevertheless, Christian churches have been burned at an alarming rate.”
The issue resurfaced when Conservative MP Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West) pointed out that Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey-Newton), in supporting the bill, failed to acknowledge the “massive increase in hate attacks on Christians.” Dhaliwal countered, asserting he had mentioned Christians and emphasized that “I will always keep on making sure that Christians are equally protected under Canadian law.”
Neil MacCarthy, communications director for the Archdiocese of Toronto, welcomed the proposed legislation. “The archdiocese welcomes legislation that will offer enhanced protection for faith communities and specifically places of worship, ensuring that they remain places of prayer and peace,” he said.
Arson Destroys Historic Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bellis
The urgency of such protections was underscored by a recent incident in Bellis, Alberta, where the century-old All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church was destroyed in an apparent arson attack on Sept. 21. According to a Smoky Lake RCMP news release, the incident followed a crime spree involving the theft of two vehicles. When police attempted to stop the stolen vehicles, one rammed a police car, and a suspect attempted to use bear mace against officers. Three suspects, including one youth, were arrested with assistance from RCMP police dogs and Remote Piloted Aircraft Services, though one suspect remains at large. The second stolen vehicle and its occupants have not been located.
Soon after, Mounties received reports of a fire at the All Saints parish, which was completely destroyed. Firestorm Emergency Services Consulting Group determined that an accelerant was likely used to start the blaze. Evidence found in the recovered stolen vehicle linked the theft suspects to the church fire.
“It was gut-wrenching,” said Annette Flak, secretary-treasurer of the All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox parish. “My first thought was of my 86-year-old mother, who was born and raised in that church, whose brother was ordained as a priest in that church. All I could think is they took my mom’s church from her. They couldn’t leave it for a few more years until she passed and she could have a proper send-off, a proper burial from her church that she loved.”
The destruction of the Bellis church highlights the ongoing vulnerability of religious sites in Canada, reinforcing the need for legislative measures like Bill C-9 to address and deter hate-motivated crimes.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Register and National Post
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