Canada forbids non-Christian Chaplains in federal prisons

[LurkerBaba]

The federal government is cancelling the contracts of non-Christian chaplains at federal prisons, CBC News has learned.

Inmates of other faiths, such as Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jews, will be expected to turn to Christian prison chaplains for religious counsel and guidance, according to the office of Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, who is also responsible for Canada's penitentiaries.
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Toews said he wasn't convinced part-time chaplains from other religions were an appropriate use of taxpayer money and that he would review the policy.

In an email to CBC News, Toews' office says that as a result of the review, the part-time non-Christian chaplains will be let go and the remaining full-time chaplains in prisons will now provide interfaith services and counselling to all inmates.

"The minister strongly supports the freedom of religion for all Canadians, including prisoners," the email states. "However, the government "¦ is not in the business of picking and choosing which religions will be given preferential status through government funding. The minister has concluded "¦ chaplains employed by Corrections Canada must provide services to inmates of all faiths." wat

57% of inmates Christian

Non-Christian prison chaplains chopped by Ottawa - British Columbia - CBC News

 

[Known_Unknown]

This decision won't stand. The minister in question has made a number of stupid decisions in the past, which he had to reverse after public outcries. In one case, he called all those who opposed the government's online spying laws pedophiles (the argument being the laws would only be used against such criminals). There was such outrage at that comment that the law itself was never introduced in Parliament, and even some members of "Anonymous" went after the guy.

Thankfully the vast majority of Canadians (unlike Americans) are left-leaning, so in the next election in 2014, those jokers will be thrown out anyway.

 

[pmaitra]

"is not in the business of picking and choosing which religions will be given preferential status"

And they did exactly that - gave preferential status to Christian chaplains. Do such people even understand the language they speak?

 

[Known_Unknown]

^^I believe in some cases, the preferential treatment is justified on the basis of "tradition" or historical precedence or "preserving culture". For example the government provides funding for private Catholic schools but not schools of any other faith such as Jewish, Muslim, Hindu etc. A majority of Canadians oppose the policy, but since it is part of the Constitution, it is tough to change and no political party wants to have a go at it.