Conservative Harper attacked right from pulpit of Catholic Church today

Talking Peace and Social Justice, the far left Development and Peace representing other leftist groups came to Catholic Church in Canada today, elbowing the Gospel of Jesus Christ aside for a full-tilt campaign speech for the Coalition Opposition. In the last message heard before the final blessing was given, parishioners were told to “get on their computers” to spread the word that the Conservative Government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is forcing Canada into the European Union.

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The exact words of Susan at St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church, Burlington, Ontario, who plugged the website of the Council of Canadians among others: “The Harper Conservatives are planning our country’s entrance into the European Union. Did you know this?” (go to the 1:04 mark on CFP YouTube). The message was delivered at St. Gabe’s 8 a.m. Mass and repeated at the 11 a.m. Mass. The captive audience at Sunday service, who had already contributed to a collection that went to Development and Peace, experienced something of a Charlie Sheen in Detroit moment. “I already got your money, dude,” he shouted to departing audience members who walked out on his show. Nor did the political message stop there. “We need to have better health care, a stronger economy and jobs. We need to protect our freedoms here and now,” Susan said. A stony silence followed the 8 a.m. message. A smattering of applause followed the delivery at the later Mass where CFP videotaped the campaign speech. Interesting to note that at the same time Susan’s 11 a.m. message was being delivered, Canadian Liberal Party Leader Michael Ignatieff (media dubbed “Iggy”) was launching his Barack Obama style campaign electronically via LiveFeed. In both addresses at St. Gabriel’s, parishioners were invited to write Steve Harper’s “friend” Burlington MP Mike Wallace. “Please write to him and if you do not have a computer, visit him when you’re on the second floor of the Burlington Mall.” Development and Peace and the Council of Canadians are Canadian both non-profit organizations.

Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis. Development and Peace is a membership led organization supported by parish collections, individual donations and government grants, principally from the Canadian International Development Agency. Our vision: Committed to change Our mission: Support partners in the Global South who promote alternatives to unfair social, political and economic structures. It educates the Canadian population about the causes of poverty and mobilizes Canadians towards actions for change. In the struggle for human dignity, the organization forms alliances with northern and southern groups working for social change. It also supports women in their search for social and economic justice.

The Council of Canadians is a member of the Canadian Peace Alliance, touted as “Canada’s largest umbrella peace organization. It is chaired by activist Maude Barlow, board chair of the Washington-based Food & Water Watch and executive member of the San Francisco-based International Forum on Globalization and a Councillor with the Hamburg-based World Future Council. In 2008/2009, she served as Senior Advisor on Water to the 63rd President of the United Nations General Assembly. The Council of Canadians supports the War Resisters’ Support Campaign, which is a broad based coalition of community, faith, labour and other organizations and individuals that have come together to support U.S. soldiers seeking asylum in Canada because they refuse to fight in “the illegal war in Iraq”. Both organizations are creatures of the United Nations. Development and Peace, through CIDA, the Maurice Strong founded Canadian International Development Agency. The Council of Canadians “which seeks to establish a Department of Peace in Canada to change the dynamic of debate and decision making in cabinet and parliament towards a culture of peace and non-violence at home and abroad,” is described on its campaign page as being “in concert with the UN”. Canadian non-profit organizations like Development and Peace and Council of Canadians are curtailed by Canada’s rules for non profits from participating in overt political activities. From The Canadian Government Website:

Political purposes Organizations with political purposes will not qualify for registration. The courts have determined political purposes to be those that seek to:

• further the interests of a particular political party; or support a political party or candidate for public office; or
• retain, oppose, or change the law, policy, or decision of any level of government in Canada or a foreign country.

In addition, a registered charity cannot engage in any partisan political activity (i.e., one that involves direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office).  However, a registered charity can engage, to a limited extent, in non-partisan political activities which help accomplish the charity's purpose. For more information and examples, see Policy Statement CPS-022, Political Activities.

Entering a Catholic church and campaigning for a political party is certainly partisan political activity and both organizations should have their charitable status pulled. Most parishioners do not expect to hear speeches for political parties during election campaigns at their local church Sunday services. The age-old hymn What A Friend We Have in Jesus could have easily been replaced today by What a Friend Iggy has in the Canadian far left. Meanwhile, during election saving your immortal soul via the pulpit is being trumped by “Peace, Brother, Peace.” -Update: From Lifesitenews