{"id":18500,"date":"2015-03-24T16:25:49","date_gmt":"2015-03-24T20:25:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?p=18500"},"modified":"2021-10-07T12:05:35","modified_gmt":"2021-10-07T16:05:35","slug":"religious-freedom-a-communal-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/intersection\/2015\/03\/24\/religious-freedom-a-communal-right\/","title":{"rendered":"Religious Freedom: A Communal Right"},"content":{"rendered":"

On March 19, the Supreme Court of Canada released its long-anticipated Loyola decision[i]<\/a> and came very close to saying that there is a religious freedom right, protected by the Charter<\/em>, for religious corporations. It was only one vote short. However, the entire seven-member panel of the Court ruled that religious freedom does have \u201ccommunal aspects.\u201d<\/strong> Three judges were prepared to go all the way to recognize religious freedom rights for a religious corporation, but the other four did not see the need to decide the question of religious corporations in this case. However, this decision is a major step forward in the evolution of religious freedom since the Charter <\/em>came into effect in 1982.<\/p>\n

BACKGROUND<\/strong><\/p>\n

The case centred on the Quebec government\u2019s insistence that Montreal\u2019s Loyola High School, a private Catholic school, be \u201cneutral\u201d in teaching the Ethics and Religious Culture curriculum. That is a very difficult and imposing obligation for a religious school that exists to pass on a religious faith. Loyola had no problem being \u201cneutral\u201d in teaching other faiths; however, it requested an exemption from teaching its own Catholic faith and the ethics portion of the course in a \u201cneutral\u201d way. The Quebec government refused the request and demanded the school be \u201cnon-confessional\u201d in teaching the course. After almost a year since the court hearing, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the Quebec government\u2019s position violated the Charter <\/em>right of religious freedom. <\/strong><\/p>\n

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AS A COMMUNAL RIGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quebec argued that religious freedom was solely an individual right and that religious corporations, such as Loyola High School, had no right to claim religious protection. The Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC) intervened with written arguments, claiming that religious corporations have the right to religious freedom.<\/p>\n

While all seven members of the Court were of the view that Loyola\u2019s freedom of religion was infringed, the Court split in its reasoning 4-3 over the issues of religious corporate rights and the remedy in the case. Both opinions held that religious freedom is not only an individual right but also includes communal dimensions. This is significant. Justice Abella recognized that \u201cindividuals may sometimes require a legal entity in order to give effect to the constitutionally protected communal aspects of their religious beliefs and practice, such as the transmission of their faith.\u201d[ii]<\/a> But she did not think it was necessary to decide whether corporations enjoy religious freedom in their own right under s. 2(a) of the Charter to decide the case. Religious freedom, she maintained, must \u201caccount for the socially embedded nature of religious belief, and the deep linkages between this belief and its manifestation through communal institutions and traditions.\u201d[iii]<\/a><\/p>\n

Failure to recognize this aspect of religious freedom would denigrate religions that emphasize communal worship and other communal activities.[iv]<\/a> When the state told Loyola how it was to teach Catholicism, it was \u201ctelling them how to teach the very religion that animates Loyola\u2019s identity.\u201d[v]<\/a> Further, it interfered with the rights of parents to transmit the Catholic faith to their children because it prevented \u201ca Catholic discussion of Catholicism.\u201d[vi]<\/a> The Minister\u2019s refusal to allow Loyola to teach Catholicism as a Catholic institution assumed that engagement of one\u2019s own religion on his or her own terms was disrespectful toward others. That assumption was unreasonable.[vii]<\/a><\/p>\n

Justices McLachlin and Moldaver were unequivocal in their acceptance of the Charter\u2019s protection of the \u201ccommunal character of religion\u201d[viii]<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The individual and collective aspects of freedom of religion are indissolubly intertwined. The freedom of religion of individuals cannot flourish without freedom of religion for the organizations through which those individuals express their religious practices and through which they transmit their faith.[ix]<\/strong><\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

MacLachlin and Moldaver held that a corporation was entitled to religious freedom protection[x]<\/a> as long as it was constituted primarily for religious purposes and operated in accordance with those religious purposes.[xi]<\/a><\/p>\n

Since a corporate organization does not demonstrate a sincere belief as an individual, it must show that its belief or practice is consistent with its purpose and its operation.[xii]<\/a> Such beliefs and practises are more static and less fluid than those of an individual, which makes the inquiry into past practises and consistency of positions more relevant than it would be if the claimant were an individual.[xiii]<\/a>  In this case, the beliefs and practises of Loyola were consistent and ought to be protected. The Minister\u2019s refusal to accommodate those beliefs was in violation of the Charter right.<\/p>\n

McLachlin and Moldaver\u2019s decision forms a great foundation for a future case to clearly outline the boundaries of the religious freedom for religious corporate bodies. It is an incremental development in the right direction.<\/p>\n

REMEDY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Justice Abella decided that the Charter right to religious freedom was not infringed by requiring Loyola to \u201cteach ethics of other<\/em> religions in a neutral, historical and phenomenological way.\u201d[xiv]<\/a> She is of the view that learning about other belief systems in denominational schools is particularly important.[xv]<\/a> It requires flexibility and delicate handling by making some adjustments to the program. However, the state is not to abandon its objectives nor are Loyola\u2019s teachers to \u201cshed their own beliefs.\u201d[xvi]<\/a> The Minister needs to strike a proper balance between the Charter protections and state objectives in reviewing Loyola\u2019s proposal.<\/p>\n

Therefore, Justice Abella sent the matter back to the Quebec Government to reconsider its decision in denying Loyola the opportunity to use its own approach to reach the government\u2019s objectives in teaching the Ethics and Religious Culture course. However, Justice McLachlin was of the view that this was unnecessary. The Quebec Government, according to McLachlin, should simply grant Loyola the exemption forthwith. Loyola has waited long enough for a remedy.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the Court did not grant Loyola its legal costs. That is a very unusual result\u2014especially because the Court ruled against the decision of the Quebec government.  One wonders whether this is something we can expect more of in the future of religious freedom cases. Should a religious organization have to pay its legal costs when its religious freedom has been violated? I think not.<\/p>\n

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are a number of takeaways from this decision:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. It is a very positive decision. <\/strong>The fact that all seven justices recognized the \u201ccommunal aspects\u201d of religious freedom is very significant. It is but a small incremental step for a future court decision to clearly enunciate the boundaries of corporate religious freedom.<\/li>\n
  2. It is evident that the Court struggled to arrive at its decision. <\/strong>A 4-3 division is evidence of the intensity with which the Court operated.<\/li>\n
  3. It is unfortunate that the majority did not give Loyola the remedy forthwith, nor give its legal costs.<\/strong> After waiting seven years, Loyola must still wait to see if the Quebec government will in fact give the exemption.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Church spires continue to pierce the skyline of small town Canada. While they remain faith monuments of previous generations, they are also evidence of the communal aspect of religion. It is reassuring to see that the highest Court recognizes the communal aspects of religion. However, the recognition of religious freedom rights for religious corporations waits for another day.<\/p>\n

    —–<\/p>\n

    [i]<\/a> Loyola High School v. Quebec (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 12. Found online: < http:\/\/scc-csc.lexum.com\/scc-csc\/scc-csc\/en\/item\/14703\/index.do<\/a>> accessed March 20, 2015.<\/p>\n

    [ii]<\/a> Para. 33.<\/p>\n

    [iii]<\/a> Para. 60.<\/p>\n

    [iv]<\/a> Para. 60.<\/p>\n

    [v]<\/a> Para. 63.<\/p>\n

    [vi]<\/a> Para. 64.<\/p>\n

    [vii]<\/a> Para. 69.<\/p>\n

    [viii]<\/a> Para. 91.<\/p>\n

    [ix]<\/a> Para. 94.<\/p>\n

    [x]<\/a> Para. 95.<\/p>\n

    [xi]<\/a> Para. 100.<\/p>\n

    [xii]<\/a> Para. 138.<\/p>\n

    [xiii]<\/a> Para. 139.<\/p>\n

    [xiv]<\/a> Para. 71.<\/p>\n

    [xv]<\/a> Para. 72.<\/p>\n

    [xvi]<\/a> Para. 78.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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The Qu\u00e9bec Court of Appeal appeared to suggest that there was no reason for Loyola to be concerned because it has the rest\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Law and Religion"","block_context":{"text":"Law and Religion","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/law-and-religion-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16795,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/intersection\/2014\/03\/31\/report-from-court-on-loyola-hearing-march-24-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":18500,"position":1},"title":"Report From Court on Loyola Hearing – March 24, 2014","author":"cccc","date":"March 31, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Report From Court On March 24 I, along with my colleague Derek Ross, represented Canadian Council of Christian at the Supreme Court of Canada hearing on the Loyola High School case in Ottawa.\u00a0\u00a0Loyola High School is a Jesuit school located on the outskirts of Montreal that objects to the Quebec\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"freedom of religion\"","block_context":{"text":"freedom of religion","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/tag\/freedom-of-religion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Barry W. Bussey and Derek Ross, Counsel for CCCC (written submissions only) at the attendance of the Loyola High School Case on March 24, 2014 at the Supreme Court of Canada.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/IMG_3352-768x1024-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14690,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/cccc\/2013\/06\/12\/supreme-court-decides-to-hear-high-schools-appeal-for-ethics-course-exemption\/","url_meta":{"origin":18500,"position":2},"title":"Supreme Court Decides to Hear High School\u2019s Appeal for Ethics Course Exemption","author":"CCCC","date":"June 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The Supreme Court of Canada announced today that it will hear the case of Loyola High School (LHS) and the Attorney General of Quebec.1\u00a0LHS argued that, as a religious institution, it has a religious freedom right under the Canadian Charter of Rights to be exempt from having to teach the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27716,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/intersection\/2018\/06\/20\/the-constitutional-promise-of-religious-freedom-betrayed\/","url_meta":{"origin":18500,"position":3},"title":"The Constitutional Promise of Religious Freedom Betrayed","author":"cccc","date":"June 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Y7ESLUvcM9U June 15, 2018, will go down in history as the day that the constitutional promise of religious freedom was betrayed.\u00a0\u00a0In the next few minutes I will explain why. The Supreme Court of Canada released two decisions against Trinity Western University\u2019s bid to have a law school, one involving the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms\"","block_context":{"text":"Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/tag\/canadian-charter-of-rights-and-freedoms\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_5851.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_5851.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_5851.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_5851.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_5851.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15417,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/intersection\/2013\/09\/09\/has-the-religious-worker-become-as-obnoxious-as-a-smoker-in-the-workplace-the-charter-of-quebec-values-a-meaningful-choice-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":18500,"position":4},"title":"Has the Religious Worker Become As Obnoxious As A Smoker In The Workplace? The Charter of Quebec Values: A Meaningful Choice?","author":"cccc","date":"September 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The Government of Quebec appears to be of the view that the religious minorities in its employ are like the obnoxious smoker who contemptuously and purposely blows his smoke on the non-smoker.\u00a0 It gets under one\u2019s nose.\u00a0 Religious people who wear specific clothing because of their religious faith are obnoxious\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Law and Religion"","block_context":{"text":"Law and Religion","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/law-and-religion-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"450px-Misa_foto_komunity_006a","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/450px-Misa_foto_komunity_006a1-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":35682,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/cccc\/2022\/09\/16\/our-advocacy\/","url_meta":{"origin":18500,"position":5},"title":"Our Advocacy","author":"CCCC","date":"September 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"For more than three decades, CCCC has been involved in coordinating, organizing, and leading legal responses to issues of significance to CCCC members, the broader Christian community, and the charitable sector as a whole. This work is done through the CCCC Trust Fund for Legal Defence (the Fund). But advocacy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "50th Anniversary"","block_context":{"text":"50th Anniversary","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/50th-anniversary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4.png?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4.png?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4.png?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p30X8p-4Oo","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18500"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18500\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18500"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=18500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}