Vancouver Island MP James Lunney made a significantly courageous non-political decision to leave the Conservative Party of Canada and sit as an independent in the House because of his Christian beliefs.
This was a decision of conscience based on principal and certainly not for personal or political gain as the personal loss to Mr. Lunney in terms of misunderstandings and severed relationships is great and had to be calculated into his decision. He announced months ago that he would not be running in the coming federal election after serving his Nanaimo-Alberni constituents extremely well for five terms. Mr. Lunney, you see, is a christian first and a politician second.
He willingly sacrificed his position with the Tory caucus so that he would be free to speak out on his christian beliefs. Had he remained in the party there most certainly would be those who would try and make a wedge issue out of Lunney's christian convictions to link to and denigrate all Conservatives including the Prime Minister.
There are those in the media who will vehemently defend a Muslim woman's right under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms to wear a hijab but are quite prepared to take away Mr. Lunney's right under the same Charter to freely speak on matters of faith and conscience.
We have lawyers and law societies in this country who would take away the right of Christians to practice law in Canada for no other reason than that they are Christians. Witness the current and outrageous persecution of Trinity Western University by lawyers. There are bigoted and petty individuals who would similarly take away the right of men and women of faith to run for office in Canada and serve in government.
The best word to describe such actions is persecution.
Canada is recognized globally for its leadership on human rights issues, values of pluralism and tolerance and our many democratic freedoms including freedom of speech and religion. We even have the newly created Office of Religious Freedom. Christians as well as all religions have the right to speak out on issues of conscience and faith in accordance with our Charter. In light of the ever increasing attempts to stifle freedom of religion, conscience and expression in Canada all Canadians should be seriously asking themselves if this is really the kind of Canada they want for themselves and their children.
