Concerning comments from Payette

Re: Trudeau applauds Payette for standing up for science in convention speech — Nov. 3

As a Canadian citizen, Christian, and pastor of a church, I have great concern with comments made by our Governor General, Julie Payette, in which she expressed incredulity and mockery at my views regarding religion and creation.

I fully realize, and accept, that not all people — even within the church — will interpret the creation story in Genesis the same way I do. However, I was shocked to hear an official of our government voice disdain regarding my views … and then to hear my prime minister express his approval rather than apologizing to Canadians across our land who were slighted by these words.

Within my religious community across Canada, there is a strong feeling that our Canadian leaders are becoming more and more antagonistic toward Christians and our beliefs. If derisive and mocking comments were to be expressed by Julie about other groups within our Canadian society, such as our First Nations peoples and their beliefs, I would be shocked if she weren’t out of a job within the hour. The public outcry would be deafening.

When Christians and their beliefs are the brunt of such blatant dismissiveness, however, our leaders applaud. Rev. Dr. Richard Kopanke Senior Pastor, Faith Evangelical Missionary Church Kitchener