While Canada does not face the brutal violence seen in regions like Nigeria, Syria, or Gaza, ACN highlights concerning trends, including a sharp rise in religiously motivated hate crimes and policies curbing public expressions of faith
Newsroom (21/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a world grappling with political upheaval, violence, and economic strain, religious persecution is intensifying globally, and Canada is not exempt, according to the latest report from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a pontifical charity. Released on October 21, 2025, in Rome, the Religious Freedom in the World Report marks 25 years of documenting religious oppression, ranging from extreme violence to what Pope Francis has termed “polite persecution.”
The report, launched at an event featuring Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, underscores Canada’s vulnerability to subtle but growing restrictions on religious freedom. While Canada does not face the brutal violence seen in regions like Nigeria, Syria, or Gaza, ACN highlights concerning trends, including a sharp rise in religiously motivated hate crimes and policies curbing public expressions of faith.
Police data cited in the report shows hate crimes in Canada surged from 3,612 in 2022 to 4,777 in 2023, a 32% increase, with Jewish communities bearing the brunt of this hostility. Christians have also faced targeted attacks. “Between 2021 and 2024, at least 44 churches in Canada were burned to the ground, with 24 confirmed as arson,” the report notes, linking these incidents to unverified claims of unmarked graves at Indigenous residential schools.
In Quebec, the report flags the province’s rigid application of laïcité—secularism—as a growing threat to religious expression. In December 2024, Quebec Premier François Legault proposed a ban on public prayer, stating, “Seeing people praying in the streets, in public parks, is not something we want in Quebec.” Legault signaled his intent to invoke the notwithstanding clause to enact the measure, raising alarms about the erosion of fundamental rights.
Marie-Claude Lalonde, national director of ACN Canada, emphasized the profound impact of church burnings. “These are more than buildings; they represent the life of a community—baptisms, weddings, funerals, and gatherings,” she told The Catholic Register. While she described the arsons as episodic rather than a sustained trend, Lalonde expressed deeper concern about broader societal shifts. “The rise in hatred against Jewish and Muslim communities, combined with a growing refusal to include religion in public discourse, particularly in Quebec, is troubling,” she said. “Religion is increasingly seen as a privilege, not a fundamental right under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
The report also addresses Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program, noting that over 60,000 deaths have occurred since its legalization in 2016. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has firmly opposed euthanasia and MAiD in Catholic health institutions, a stance reiterated in a November 2023 statement.
At the Rome launch, ACN editor-in-chief Marta Petrosillo presented the findings following an address by Cardinal Parolin. Earlier, Pope Leo XIV met privately with ACN leaders, including Lalonde, praising the report as “a powerful instrument for raising awareness.” He lauded ACN’s global mission, noting its support for marginalized communities, such as rebuilding chapels and aiding missions in places like Peru’s Diocese of Chiclayo, where he once served. “Your work strengthens the spiritual and moral fabric of society,” the Pope said, imparting his apostolic blessing.
Lalonde described the encounter with Pope Leo XIV as “warm and moving,” highlighting his commitment to defending religious freedom. “His support underscores that religious freedom is a human right, not a privilege,” she said.
As Canada prides itself on championing human rights globally, the ACN report serves as a sobering reminder that vigilance is needed at home to safeguard religious liberty against subtle but persistent threats.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Register
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