Office of Religious Freedom Closes March 31

[tay]

The Conservatives first promised to create an Office of Religious Freedom during the 2011 election campaign. The office’s mandate is to “speak out and to protect and promote religious freedom around the world.”

While the Conservative initiative was criticized for mixing politics and religion, certain religious groups supported it. In a letter to Mr. Dion in January, Jewish, Sikh and Ahmadiyya Muslim organizations asked the Liberal government not to scrap the office.

On Tuesday, Mr. Dion reiterated the government’s thinking in determining how to best defend various rights.

“We believe that human rights are better defended when they are considered, universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, as set out in the Vienna Declaration,” said Mr. Dion.

Liberals to close Office of Religious Freedom, Dion says - The Globe and Mail

 

[Machjo]

The office was redundant and hypocritical. Redundant because it did nothing that the UNHCHR didn'do already, and hypocritical since it could not criticize Canadian violations of religious equality.

 

[gerryh]

vouchers

 

[Machjo]

vouchers

Vouchers for what?

 

[personal touch]

The office was redundant and hypocritical. Redundant because it did nothing that the UNHCHR didn'do already, and hypocritical since it could not criticize Canadian violations of religious equality.

you read my mind,I found that boards,agencies,commissions,etc were set up to be a political absorber,and their true intent of existance was opposite of what Canadians believed them to be.lots of mind reading going on.

 

[gerryh]

Vouchers for what?

The office was redundant and hypocritical. Redundant because it did nothing that the UNHCHR didn'do already, and hypocritical since it could not criticize Canadian violations of religious equality.

....

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

The office for religious freedom sounds like something that could be exploited. Sort of like the HRC. I agree it should be scrapped.

 

[Machjo]

Oh, are you suggesting that the separate school system is unequal? How so?

 

[Dexter Sinister]

What? How do you get to that from what RCS said? But since you asked, of course the separate school system is unequal. In the jurisdiction where I live it hires only Catholic teachers and requires a letter of reference from their parish priest, it teaches an explicitly Catholic agenda, and will not grant a diploma to students who don't pass a course of Catholic religious instruction, though it has nothing to do with provincial education standards. It's a constitutional relic from the 19th century and should be done away with.

 

[Jinentonix]

Why the hell are we giving protected rights to what is essentially an opinion anyway? The spirit behind Freedom of Religion is being distorted and warped to mean 'freedom from criticism' for certain religions. If we can't criticize opinion, we might as well do away with Freedom of Speech altogether.
Why are some religions free to be mocked while others are verboten? Are we really saying (as a country) that some theistic religions deserve less or more respect than others?


Remember folks, religion is a choice, and people get made fun of for making stupid choices all the time. The Darwin Awards relies on it.

 

[Walter]

The office was redundant and hypocritical.

As is most of gubmint.

 

[Machjo]

What? How do you get to that from what RCS said? But since you asked, of course the separate school system is unequal. In the jurisdiction where I live it hires only Catholic teachers and requires a letter of reference from their parish priest, it teaches an explicitly Catholic agenda, and will not grant a diploma to students who don't pass a course of Catholic religious instruction, though it has nothing to do with provincial education standards. It's a constitutional relic from the 19th century and should be done away with.

Sorry, I was referring to Gerryh.

Why the hell are we giving protected rights to what is essentially an opinion anyway? The spirit behind Freedom of Religion is being distorted and warped to mean 'freedom from criticism' for certain religions. If we can't criticize opinion, we might as well do away with Freedom of Speech altogether.
Why are some religions free to be mocked while others are verboten? Are we really saying (as a country) that some theistic religions deserve less or more respect than others?


Remember folks, religion is a choice, and people get made fun of for making stupid choices all the time. The Darwin Awards relies on it.

How is religion or any other belief a 'choice?'

I once disbelieved in God, but not by choice. I now believe in God but not by choice. By definition, belief is not a choice. If it were a choice, I could choose to believe that there is no floor below my feet right now.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

How is religion or any other belief a 'choice?'

If it were a choice, I could choose to believe that there is no floor below my feet right now.

What's stopping you from believing there's no floor below your feet right now?

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Sorry, I was referring to Gerryh.

Ah, that makes sense, didn't think that as a response to RCS sounded like you. I've done that too, you think you've got time to enter a quick response that'll appear right below what you're responding to, then some nimble fingered character--RCS is a writer, probably does 100+ words a minute--sneaks another post in before you finish.

 

[Machjo]

What's stopping you from believing there's no floor below your feet right now?

My mind does.

I challenge you to convince yourself that there is no floor under your feet right now.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

My mind does.

I challenge you to convince yourself that there is no floor under your feet right now.

I would challenge you to present as much evidence of the existence of some god as I can produce of the floor, but I know you can't, so why bother?

Please note I said "evidence," not tail-chasing fallacies and tautology.

 

[PoliticalNick]

This office shouldn't be scrapped....it should be combined with the mental health dept where it belongs!

 

[Machjo]

I would challenge you to present as much evidence of the existence of some god as I can produce of the floor, but I know you can't, so why bother?

Please note I said "evidence," not tail-chasing fallacies and tautology.

The point is this. When I used to not believe in God, it wasn't like I woke up one day and decided not to believe in God. I even remember a low time in my life when I wanted to believe in God but couldn't. I also remember a difficult time in my life when I did not want to believe in God but still did.

From my experience, belief or disbelief in God is not a choice.

I'll ask you, did you choose to disbelieve in God or do you just disbelieve in God independently of your will to do so or not?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

I'll ask you, did you choose to disbelieve in God or do you just disbelieve in God independently of your will to do so or not?

I chose. I reviewed the evidence, found there was none, and therefore chose not to believe in a god or gods.

Same reason I choose not to believe in fairies, superheroes, and aliens. No evidence.

 

[Ludlow]

As is most of gubmint.

It's government stop talking like a child you're a grown man gawd damn you.