Since taking office in January of 2017, President Donald J. Trump has been working hard to protect the religious liberties of Christians in the United States.
For instance, on May 4, 2017, he signed an executive order to protect religious freedom and freedom of speech. The president eliminated funding to the United Nations Population Fund, which helps to provide funding for abortions in developing countries. Trump also became the first sitting president to address the March for Life rally via satellite on January 19, 2018.
While Trump is fighting for religious freedom, his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is seemingly pushing an anti-Christian agenda.
In December of 2017, Trudeau’s government made plans to announce that employers applying for the Canada Summer Jobs Program must sign a statement affirming their support of abortion and transgenderism. The inconceivable decision effectively prohibited pro-family and pro-life organizations from taking advantage of the program. It also barred all employers who possess likeminded views including religious institutions.
Stephen Wile is the CEO of The Mustard Seed, a Christian aid organization that assists thousands of Alberta’s helpless and poor residents in Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer. Last summer, Wile’s organization hired 17 grant-supported students to work in Alberta. The students assisted people facing addictions, homelessness, and other problems linked to poverty, irrespective of the person’s color, creed, or faith.
“The Mustard Seed doesn’t take a position on abortion, but with the government making this a requirement for funding, it’s trying to force us from a neutral position to an affirmative position on abortion, and we’re not prepared to do that,” Wile said. “We’re not willing to support the government’s position in order to get the funds, it’s just not worth it for us.”
The CEO of the Mustard Seed went on to add, “It seems like the government is saying, ‘The issue of where you stand on abortion is more important than the work you do and the people you serve,’ and that’s really sad. At the core of who we are, we’re really against fear and hate, and unfortunately, the government is taking a position that instead of decelerating division, it’s accelerating it.”
At a town hall in Ontario earlier this year, Trudeau addressed the Canada Summer Jobs Program debacle. The Prime Minister remarked, “Of course, you’re more than allowed to have whatever beliefs you like. But when those beliefs lead to actions determined to restrict a woman’s right to control her own body, that’s where I, and I think we, draw the line as a country.”
James Paten is the lead pastor of First United Church in Calgary. Referring to Trudeau’s Canada Summer Jobs Program mandate, the minister stated, “There’s great irony in this new requirement in the jobs grant application,” he said. “Even if you take the Christian faith and morality out of it, they’re actually asking us to agree with the federal Liberal policy platform, but they don’t ask Pakistan to do that, they don’t ask China to do that. It’s ironic.”
Paten revealed his place of worship will give up the funds for nine to 12 students instead of signing a document that says it affirms aborting babies.
The initiative to politicize the Canada Summer Jobs Program is simply one of many actions Trudeau has taken to trounce religious freedom. In March of 2016, Trudeau’s administration pledged $81 million to the same United Nations Population Fund Trump cut funding to. In this same month, Canada’s Prime Minister also closed the Office of Religious Freedom. The Stephen Harper government which preceded Trudeau opened the office in order to champion the rights of mistreated religious minorities overseas — which includes many Christians living in Islamic countries.
In June of 2016, Trudeau’s government passed a bill that legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia. In June of 2017, the Prime Minister marched with his wife and two kids in Toronto’s Pride Parade while wearing Muslim socks. In November of 2017, the Canadian leader defended his Governor General when she mocked religious people who believe God created life.
Pray for Christians in Canada who are undergoing persecution for their closely held beliefs as a result of Prime Minister Trudeau’s liberal policies.
~ 1776 Christian
