Last week, a human rights board of inquiry, in a case involving the use of The Lord’s Prayer in Saskatoon schools, said the Lord’s Prayer discriminates against non-Christians.
Non-Christian parents had complained about the use of the prayer.
In striking down the board’s policy encouraging The Lord’s Prayer, the board of inquiry said the school board looks like “a backwater of religious tolerance.”
Retired justice Ken Halvorson allowed that an “antiquated law”, in the words of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, “does give the board the constitutional right to discriminate by following antiquated thinking.”
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By law, boards of education in Saskatchewan can dictate that the day begin with The Lord’s Prayer in all schools. Halvorson, however, “said the board must not encourage the use of The Lord’s Prayer or allow teachers and principals to form their own policies in schools.”
His judgment could have far reaching effects, not just in schools but in all parts of the country.
Canada is either a Christian country or it is not. I have always believed it is.
That is why we make Christmas and Easter statutory holidays. That is why legislation allows for the use of The Lord’s Prayer in schools.
If we accept that the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer is discriminatory, are we then to accept that our public celebration of Christmas and Easter is likewise discriminatory?
Are we to do away with these statutory holidays?
Granted we are a nation of immigrants, many of whom are not Christians.
Their religious practices, or lack of same, must be respected, but the fact remains they have come to a Christian country and must respect our practices.
Those who are non-Christians must likewise be expected to observe religious tolerance, to Christians as well as to those of other religions.
It may be that a compromise can be reached: there exists a prayer agreed to by a national multi-faith committee which could serve as suitable replacement for The Lord’s Prayer.
The question then becomes, is it the use of The Lord’s Prayer which is being objected to or the use of prayer in general?
This issue must be settled once and for all. More important, we must have a clear affirmation from our political leaders as to whether or not Canada is a Christian country.
This will have more far-reaching effects on us as a people than whether we pray at the start of each school day and what words we use.
