Protect reading and sharing sacred texts
Petitioners ask the government to exempt good-faith reading, teaching and sharing of sacred texts from criminal liability in Bill C-9. The government responds that Charter protections and a C-9 clause already protect good-faith religious expression.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would explicitly protect reading, teaching and sharing of sacred texts from prosecution, reducing the risk that ordinary religious practice is treated as criminal.
- It clarifies legal boundaries and reassures faith communities that freedom of religion and freedom of expression are safeguarded.
- It helps prevent a chilling effect on worship, preaching and religious education by keeping government out of doctrinal matters.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Charter protections and case law already exempt good-faith religious expression, so a statutory exemption may be redundant.
- A broad exemption could hinder prosecution of genuinely hateful speech disguised as religious teaching.
- Adding exemptions to C-9 might create enforcement ambiguities or loopholes that complicate protecting vulnerable groups.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: Canadians are concerned that Liberal-Bloc amendments to Bill C-9 could be used to criminalize passages from the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, and other sacred texts; The state has no place in the religious texts or teachings of any faith community; Freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved. Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on the Liberal Government of Canada to: Protect religious freedom, uphold the right to read and share sacred texts, and prevent government overreach into matters of faith.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY PATRICIA LATTANZIO The Government of Canada’s commitment to freedom of religion is unwavering. Freedom of religion is explicitly protected under section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has been consistently upheld by Canadian courts. All Canadians must be free to pray, preach, teach, interpret scripture, and express religious belief in good faith without fear of violence, intimidation, or criminal sanction. At the same time, Canada is facing a troubling rise in hate speech and hate crimes. To better protect all people in Canada, including their ability to worship, gather, and practise their faith in daily life, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, in the House of Commons on September 19, 2025. As part of Parliament’s consideration of this legislation, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights adopted an amendment on December 9, 2025, commonly referred to as the good faith religious opinion provision in the Criminal Code. This amendment reflects longstanding legal principles already recognized by Canadian courts. Crucially, Canada’s hate propaganda laws already set a very high threshold. Prosecutors must prove a deliberate intent to promote hatred, which the Supreme Court of Canada has defined as extreme and dehumanizing expression that goes far beyond mere offence or disagreement. Only the most dangerous forms of hate, including speech that vilifies, dehumanizes, or incites harm against an identifiable group, are captured by the Criminal Code. Religious sermons, teachings, and the reading or sharing of sacred texts in good faith do not meet this standard and are not criminalized. In addition, government members on the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights have proposed a clause for greater certainty in Bill C-9. This clause codifies in clear statutory language what has always been the case in Canadian law: that good faith religious, educational, political, or academic discussion on matters of public interest is not prohibited. The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to protecting religious freedom. A strong Canada safeguards every person’s right to worship freely and to share their faith, while ensuring that no one is subjected to the most extreme forms of hatred that threaten public safety, dignity, and social cohesion.