Readers Speak Out: April 14, 2019

Discrimination

Quebec’s Bill 21, which bans the wearing/display of religious symbols to those employed in “positions of authority,” is an absolute abomination and outright display of racial and religious intolerance.

The fact that it is protected by the equally infamous notwithstanding clause does not in any way legitimize nor hide the profanity of its intent. 

It has decreed discrimination and legitimized secularism. We can also see it as the first salvo in an unending assault to ban all references to religion in Quebec. It begs the question: How soon before such legislation makes its way through other provincial and federal jurisdictions?

We must call this piece of legislation exactly what it is — an act of discrimination against all religious expression that has nothing to do with threatening or undermining the neutrality of the government, regardless of (or should I say…notwithstanding) the mandate Premier Francois Legault may have, nor his reasoning for enacting this law. 

Notwithstanding Bill 21, a right to religious preference is constitutionally preserved in both Quebec and Canada. Are we witnessing the beginning of an erosion of that right and a further invasion by the State into our religious beliefs and practices?

Alastair MacLeod

Barrie, Ont.

Healthy eating

Re: A deep dive into the pool of fast-food fish (Mar. 10):

The article provides helpful tips to avoid meat during Lenten fasting.

But in keeping with recent reports warning of the real consequences to the planet due to the consumption of meat as well as fish products, we are encouraged to adopt a more plant-based approach to benefit not only our own health but that of our common home.

There is an abundance of information available concerning the unsustainable price paid by the environment due to the human consumption of animal products, not to mention the real suffering of animals due to factory farming. 

I welcome more ecologically supportive articles which could encourage readers to increase their consumption of plant-based nutrition during Lent as well as throughout the rest of the Church calendar to benefit human health and the health of our precious Earth.

Belinda Masters,

Bowmanville, Ont.

Canadian issues

Why do we have news about Donald Trump and the United States in almost every Catholic Register but seldom, if ever, read anything about the void we have in Canada regarding the morals of our prime minister and MPs? 

The many injustices that pro-lifers went through and are still struggling with (e.g. bubble zones) across Canada, journalists don’t dare write about these and the lack of religious freedom in Canada. Where are the Catholic journalists to speak up on the moral issues of our country? 

As Catholics, we have an obligation to preserve and protect the truths of our faith. I think Canada has more issues than the United States regarding freedom of religion.    

Elisabeth Coulombe,

Edmonton, Alta.

Persecuted Christians

The March 24 issue of The Catholic Register correctly portrays on the front and following pages the compassionate stance of the Catholic Church in sympathy with the New Zealand mosque terror victims.

Sadly, in many parts of the world, Christians are being actively targeted for death. Christians in Nigeria, for example, are being murdered daily and their churches destroyed by terrorists.

The left-leaning, anti-Christian media ignores these grim facts. So I request that The Catholic Register give greater coverage to persecuted Christians so readers can pray for victims and support organizations rendering them aid. 

Dominick Lobo,

Thornhill, Ont.