As I was preparing a mailing the other day, I needed one of those manila envelopes with “bubble wrap” on the inside. Those plastic air bubbles, which my children loved to pop when they were younger, provided tremendous protection for the books I was sending. In many ways, the CCCC Legal Defence Fund is just like plastic bubble wrap, since it provides protection for our Members as they travel through the legal realities of Canadian society.

This protection would not be possible without the support that you and your organization have provided over the years. I want to thank you for your generosity, which has contributed to the great successes of the past and now prepares us for what we may have yet to face in the future.

The CCCC’s community has a well-established tradition of looking out for one another, especially when it comes to legal challenges. When one of our Members is unfairly targeted or there is a developing legal issue that will affect the broader community, we are quick to intervene and support the cause that will bring the greatest good for our Members. We take this role seriously – we understand it to be our duty.   

We are mindful of several responsibilities:

• First, we are to be informed of what legislation and cases are up and coming that have the potential to dramatically affect the ministry of our Members;

• Second, we investigate those cases which are most problematic and monitor their development;

• Third, we make the strategic decision whether to intervene in a case, lobby an Act, or otherwise be involved to ensure that the broader questions at issue, affecting our CCCC community, are addressed by the courts and the legislatures; and finally,

• Fourth, we must be prepared for the expensive reality of litigation.

Without the continued support of our Members, we would be hard pressed to monitor and litigate cases and/or legislative initiatives that may hinder Christian ministry. This does not mean that we are of the view that all courts or legislative bodies have a malicious intent to discourage Christian ministry – it is more often a matter of unintended consequences. Because a court or an elected body does not have Christianity as its primary focus, they are unable to see the end results of their decision or legislation. This is where we come in. It is our role to review litigation and legislation with the purpose of understanding its ultimate affect on Christian ministry.

It is for this reason that we have intervened in cases such as the clergy residence deduction with the Canada Revenue Agency; the Christian Horizon’s case, involving the right of ministries to have a lifestyle and morality code in the workplace; and the Drummondville Case in Quebec, where we stood for the right of church schools to opt out of a provincially mandated course on religion. Our Members’ right to do ministry is to be protected.  

Your support in maintaining the CCCC Legal Defence Fund is crucial – not only are you protecting your ministry, but you are also strengthening the hand of all of our Members in their advance to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God.

Here is a quick update on the latest matters we are considering:

• S.L. v. Commission scolaire des Chênes (Drummondville Case)

The Quebec government has made its Ethics and Religious Culture (ERC) program a mandatory course for all children. Their objective is to teach children a manner that will promote “the development of attitudes of tolerance, respect and openness,” thus “preparing them to live in a pluralist and democratic society.” 

The issue in this case is whether parents have the right to teach morality and religion to their children from their perspective or decide who will do so on their behalf. Throughout the province all parental requests to have their children exempt from the ERC program have been turned down and the Quebec Court of Appeal refused to hear the case, turning it over to the Supreme Court.

The CCCC intervened in the case because it is imperative for our Members who are private schools to opt out of programs that their parents disapprove of – especially on matters so sensitive as religion. We are not expecting to hear from the Supreme Court until the very end of the year or into the New Year.

• Supreme Court Docket

We have our eye on a number of court cases that may make their way to the Supreme Court over the coming months. Knowing that you do not have the time to watch these developments, we are vigilant in our legal monitoring of the issues that could dramatically impact your ability to do ministry.

• Office of Religious Freedom

During the recent federal election, the Prime Minister promised to open an Office of Religious Freedom. The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently working on how the office will be organized.

There has been a fair amount of criticism of this new policy initiative. Members of the academic community and some religious groups argue that the office will become a front for Christian proselytism. The CCCC is keeping an eye on this new office to ensure that its policies advance religious freedom and do not cause a backlash in unfriendly countries where our Members may be working.

The Bubble Wrap

I thank you for your time in letting me share a few matters that we are watching. These legal concerns are forever changing and developing, sometimes without rhyme or reason. The main trend that we are witnessing is an increase of challenges to our long accepted way of doing things. Christianity is no longer the default philosophical understanding in our society. This means that we are now on the defensive – we need a “bubble wrap” so that we can work together to ensure our ability to continue “Advancing Ministry Together.”

Donations

We gratefully accept your donations directed to the CCCC Legal Defence Fund with the enclosed membership renewal or online at www.cccc.org/members/renewal. If you designate your gift to a particular legal case, we will ensure that the funds will be used as designated. However, should that cause no longer be an issue because it is discontinued or resolved, we will use any remaining surplus funds for other CCCC Legal Defence matters.

Thank you for your kind, prayerful, and continued support.

Sincerely,

Barry W. Bussey   
VP – Legal Affairs

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