Not discrimination

Re: Pastor upset church can’t access federal funds — Feb. 15

I took note of this quote in Luisa D’Amato’s column about the federal program for funding summer jobs: “It’s quite troubling,” said pastor Richard Kopanke. “Based on our religious faith, we’re being discriminated against.”

Discriminated against? I think the good pastor, and Luisa D’Amato, need a refresher on the democracy that allows both free speech and all religions to practise without interference.

This country was founded on democratic principles of human rights. Not religious rights. No matter how good the works of the pastor’s church, the government has no way, nor should have, the ability to verify whether it is teaching anything that is in contrast to our human rights codes. It has always been thus.

I know there are churches of all faiths that would love government funding. Churches are often at the forefront of support for the poor in our community. That is their mission statement in many cases. That does not mean that the government has to cross that line to provide funding. Every church has its own doctrine and its own views on those hot button issues like abortion. It is contrary to the mission statement of a democracy to provide funding there. While many people of faith and many in our government on the Conservative benches think their faith belongs in government, it does not. Govern for all. By human rights. That is what is happening.

I’m quite perturbed the pastor thinks this is discrimination. I’m sure the members of our Indigenous communities might have a different point of view on what qualifies as discrimination.

Larry Lootsteen

Waterloo