MP leaves Tories over religion
A Conservative MP has quit the government caucus to sit as an Independent so he can freely defend his religious beliefs and counter attempts to “suppress a Christian world- view” in politics and other professions.
The announcement came Tuesday from James Lunney, who has held a Nanaimo, B. C., seat since 2000 but is not running again in this year’s election.
About a month ago, Lunney appeared to come to the defence of a Progressive Conservative MPP in Ontario who questioned the validity of evolution.
At the time, Lunney wrote on his Twitter feed: “Just stop calling evolution fact.” That tweet prompted criticism from some others on Twitter and the story was picked up by the media.
In a statement released by his office Tuesday, Lunney said his earlier remarks “were inflated by media, blended with other unrelated but alleged heretical statements and became a top story on national media creating a firestorm of criticism and condemnation.”
He said he will continue to vote the same way as Conservative MPs and will seek an opportunity to speak to the House “in defence of my beliefs and the concerns of my faith community.”
“Freedom of Religion is foundational to democracy; if we don’t get that right, it always leads to persecution.”
In his statement, Lunney said that “leaders of the faith community” recently came to Ottawa to raise concerns about “unprecedented attempts to stifle freedom of religion, conscience and expression in Canada.”
Those leaders pointed to a refusal by three provincial bar associations to accredit any future potential law school graduate of Trinity Western University, which is a Christian post- secondary institution.
“They identify deliberate attempts to suppress a Christian world- view from professional and economic opportunity in law, medicine, and academia,” wrote Lunney.
Among those Christian leaders who raised concerns last week was Charles McVety, president of the Institute for Canadian Values, a think- tank that advances issues “from Judeo- Christian intellectual and moral perspectives.”
In an interview Tuesday, McVety praised Lunney as a man of “conviction” and “courage” who has been frustrated by the political constraints of working within a party.
“He wants to fight for freedom and for fairness. And when you are in a Conservative or any caucus, for that matter, whatever you do affects every member of that caucus.”
“You really can’t step out and battle certain situations that you see are wrong.
“So I understand why he is stepping out.”
In his statement, Lunney stressed he is leaving the Conservative caucus voluntarily and suggested he didn’t want to cause problems for other Tory MPs.
“Given the circling trolls, I do not intend to entangle the most multi- racial, multicultural and multi- faith caucus in parliamentary history in my decision to defend my beliefs.”
He wrote that since two other politicians in Ontario and Alberta were also “targeted” in recent weeks, “it is clear that any politician or candidate of faith is going to be subjected to the same public scrutiny in coming elections.”
Lunney wrote that “in a society normally proud of embracing difference, the role of the media and partisan politics in inciting social bigotry and intolerance should be questioned.”