Quebec Wants To Violate Personal Freedom Under The Guise Of Secularism

There has always been a debate on what limits should be imposed on the separation of church and state. At its core, the Constitution encourages the freedom to practice any religion a person chooses, but the “state” cannot/should not show favoritism for one religion over another.

Even now in the United States, some groups will protest if a courthouse, library, or another public building has a nativity scene on its property. Is it fair for such a ruckus to be made over it during the holiday season? Personally, I don’t think so. We are still predominantly a Christian Nation, and if Pride flags can be freely displayed and an entire month can be celebrated as “Pride Month,” acts that clearly violate Christian beliefs, and Muslim prayers can be blasted in certain American cities, then the atheists and all others can tolerate a few displays.

On that note, the government of Quebec has paused a new bill that, if passed, would prohibit public prayer, eliminate funding for religious schools, and impose stricter restrictions on public displays of religious symbols.

Quebec has appointed its first Secularism Minister, Jean-François Roberge, who introduced Bill 9, titled “An Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Quebec,” in the province’s National Assembly on Thursday, November 27.

Critics have raised concerns that the bill attacks people’s religious rights. However, the Quebec government plans to invoke the notwithstanding clause to ensure the legislation remains in effect, preventing legal challenges.

Secularism is the principle of separating government from religion, ensuring that public policy and institutions are not influenced by religious beliefs. It promotes a society where laws are based on reason, science, and facts, allowing individuals to practice their own beliefs without imposing them on others. This separation is evident in the way the state neither funds religious organizations nor requires religious services, treating all faiths—and non-faiths—equally.

However, Roberge is pushing for secularism on steroids. Six years ago, Quebec passed a law banning teachers, judges, police officers, and other officials from wearing religious symbols. However, Roberge has stated that the new legislation is necessary because society has “advanced.”

“Quebecers have advanced since 2019, which means it is necessary to strengthen our model of secularism,” adding that the new law would be “ambitious, but moderate.”

In August, LifeSiteNews reported that Quebec was considering a ban on public prayer. This decision came in response to Muslim groups beginning to pray in the streets and parks of Quebec. Earlier this year, the province also expanded its ban on religious symbols to include all school staff, meaning no one working in a school may wear crucifixes or any form of cross.

This new law would prohibit the wearing of hijabs and turbans for individuals working in schools, daycares, and universities. It could prevent teachers from wearing crucifix jewelry, even in Catholic schools, and would ban any religious symbols from appearing in communications from public institutions. Additionally, it would prohibit prayer rooms in public institutions.

Quebec Premier François Legault strongly supports the new law, asserting earlier this month that there is a threat in his province from “radical Islamists.”

I agree with Legault and Roberge that radical Islamists are a threat. These are not rational people; they have no intention of assimilating gracefully into society. These are people who consider anyone who doesn’t believe as they do to be infidels and should be conquered or put to death.

That type of extremism is a long way from a teacher or a police officer wearing a cross or carrying a rosary. Western Culture has its own set of values, which need to be honored and protected from attack. A one-size-fits-all enforcement of secularism isn’t fair or sustainable.

There is a trend by the left to dismiss American values and Western Culture as a whole, and to allow other cultures to run roughshod over what we hold dear. They call it equity and inclusion, but it isn’t either; it is an invasion by different cultures to try to make our countries their own.

Quebec needs to stay in the lanes that support Western Culture, and to keep making strides to eliminate the invaders. Punishing the innocent along with the guilty is not equal treatment; in fact, it’s the opposite.