BY GERRY CHIDIAC
Lessons in Learning
Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the official opposition in Canadian Parliament, recently stated, “Christians may be the number one group that is victims of hate-based violence, but of course, it’s not politically correct to say that.”
As a lifelong Christian, I appreciate Mr. Poilievre’s concern. There is a certain amount of speculation in his comment, however, and it leaves me with many questions. Are Christians subjected to more hate-based violence in Canada than other religious groups? Where in the world are Christians subjected to hate-based violence? And are the policies Mr. Poilievre is proposing going to lead to a reduction in violence directed at Christians?
According to Statistics Canada, most religiously motivated hate crimes reported to police are directed at our Jewish and Muslim neighbours, not Christians. There was a spike in arson attacks on Christian churches in 2021, but this died down after Indigenous leaders and residential school survivors called for it to end.
In other parts of the world, however, it is very dangerous to be a Christian. As a Levantine Catholic, I am extremely grateful for the safety that has been offered to my family in Canada. My name translates to “minor church official” in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, and my ancestors were likely among his first followers. I often reflect on the message that appealed to them centuries before Catholicism became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Today, life remains precarious for Christians in the Levant. A number of Catholic churches and schools were bombed in Gaza, and Christians in Gaza have been “shot in cold blood” (in the words of a Vatican news agency) by Israeli military snipers. Conservative American influencer Tucker Carlson has done a great deal to bring to light the suffering of Christians living under Israeli administration. His interviews with pastor Munther Isaac and Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos are both disturbing and extremely revealing.
It is perplexing to me that Mr. Poilievre can claim to be concerned about hate directed at Christians and yet offer unquestioning support to a state that is literally targeting Christians. He has voted against all resolutions to end Canadian arms shipments to Israel, and members of his caucus will not even engage in dialogue on the issue with their constituents.
Perhaps Poilievre’s views were revealed in another Tucker Carlson interview, this time with American Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz stated that he offers unquestioning support to the modern State of Israel because the Book of Genesis says, “Those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed.” This is an interpretation of the Bible consistent with certain Zionist beliefs, but a view that many Christians, including Carlson, firmly reject.
When I reflect on the message of Christianity that my family has embraced for 2000 years, I find principles that have allowed me to live a happy and meaningful life, yet I find these ideals largely absent from Poilievre’s party platform. “Love your neighbour as yourself.” “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
I also believe that every person is a sacred Child of God who deserves to be treated with the utmost respect. I therefore find Poilievre’s targeting of specific groups – like the trans community – disturbing and contrary to the message of Jesus. “Whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did to me.”
It is unfortunate that Poilievre and his caucus post sound-bites yet refuse to engage in dialogue with skilful interviewers. For now, all we can do is speculate as to why Poilievre expressed concern about a non-existent issue in Canada, while his party’s policies result in actual harm to so many Children of God.
I specifically asked my editors at Troy Media not to call Poilievre a “Conservative”. He is an extremist politician who, in my mind, violates the proud tradition of Conservatism in Canada. They did not respect my wish. Am I being too picky? Why do you think they edited this article the way that they did?
Gerry Chidiac is an award-winning high school teacher specializing in languages, genocide studies and work with at-risk students. Check out his website here. Find him on Facebook. Or on Twitter @GerryChidiac
5 thoughts on “OPINION: Why do extremist politicians say that Christians are being targeted in Canada?”
MR Chidiac
I did not see the word conservative in your exposé at all, so they did respect your request…
Respectfully DenisG
No, they didn’t. Here is the link to the Troy Media version of the article: https://troymedia.com/politicslaw/poilievre-claims-on-christian-persecution-fall-flat/
Canada needs at least two viable political parties. As long as the Conservatives include religious aspects in their platform we do not have a choice. I do not align with any party as a rule but look for a secular platform with a smart approach to economy and basic human rights. How is it that founders of democracies have understood, for centuries, the need for complete separation of church and state and that so many citizens have lost that fundamental principal? Your country, my country. Your church is quite likely not my church. From my POV, Poilievre could not be more MAGA.
The evidence does not support the claim that Israel is targeting Christians. As is well known, Hamas routinely puts rocket launchers, ammunition dumps, command centres and other military facilities in schools, hospitals, mosques, and residences, most of which are not Catholic. Any such Catholic facilities attacked by Israel are targeted because of their use by Hamas, not because they are Catholic. Similarly, even if the Christians allegedly shot in cold blood by IDF snipers were not combatants lawfully targeted (and claims of improper IDF shootings usually turn out to be false), there is again no evidence that they were targeted because they were Christians. That Tucker Carlson, a far-right lunatic now repudiated even by Donald Trump, is Mr. Chidiac’s sole source for the claim that Israel targets Christians shows how weak the claim is.
In fact, according to both secular and Christian organizations advocating religious freedom and opposing the persecution of Christians, the persecution of Christians is due overwhelmingly to atheist countries like North Korea and China and Muslim countries. In Israel Christians are free to worship as they please in their hundreds of churches and are flourishing. For example, it is the Christian Arabs who are the Israeli demographic with the highest educational attainment. Two Christian Arabs, Salim Joubran and George Karra, have served as judges of the Supreme Court. The actor Makram Jamil Khoury was awarded the Israel Prize, Israel’s highest civic honour. In contrast, most Christians have left Gaza since Israel withdrew in 2005. Similarly, since Israel turned Bethlehem, which then had a large Christian majority, over to the Palestinian Authority in 1995, Muslims have driven out most of the Christians.
I agree with Mr. Poser. There is absolutely no evidence of religious targeting in Gaza by the IDF. It’s preposterous for Mr. Chidiac to make these claims (and even more for a media outlet to publish them). It’s even more interesting that Mr. Chitiac brings up Israel at all, in this opinion piece about Christians being persecuted in Canada. It’s a big leap to jump right to the middle eastern conflict with regard to a topic of Canada’s alleged Christian persecution. But, all roads with Mr. Chidiac seem to lead to demonizing Israel.