In this country, where the CRTC has kept the reins on religious broadcasting and Catholics make up a larger proportion of the faith community, the emergent Christian right may look and sound different than its American counterpart, but in the five years since the prospect of same-sex marriage propelled evangelicals into political action, it has spawned a coalition of advocacy groups, think tanks and youth lobbies that have changed the national debate. The “sleeping giant” that Capital Xtra! magazine had warned against in 2005 is now up and about, organizing with a vengeance that will not be easily reversed. As Faytene Kryskow, leader of Christian youth lobby called 4MYCanada, told a parliamentary reception, “We are here, and we are here to stay.”
The book by Marci McDonald will be coming out the same day at the National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa. Some of us can’t wait.
In the brief Toronto Star excerpt, The National House of Prayer, Joseph Ben-Ami, Dave Quist get mentioned.
Hit the blog search button on this blog if you want to know more about them.
As well it’s an honour to see a regular contributor to religious right alert mentioned in this teaser: Dennis Gruending of Pulpit and Politics.
Numerically, the Canadian religious right may still be a fraction of that in the U.S., but as Ottawa communications consultant Dennis Gruending points out, “Groups that are well organized can punch above their weight — particularly in an era of fractured parliaments and minority governments.” A former New Democratic Party MP, Gruending laments that “there is little in progressive Ottawa to rival the networks that have been created by the religious and political right.”
Moreover, pundits who predicted those networks would vanish in the wake of the same-sex marriage defeat have instead seen them proliferate. Amid the stormy U.S. health-care debate of 2009, most Canadians were stunned to discover that one of their own was the star of a $2 million television campaign warning Americans about the perils of this country’s publicly funded medical system. Shona Holmes, the poster girl for that attack, turned out to be fronting a lawsuit against Ontario’s health ministry spearheaded by a Calgary-based Christian legal advocacy group named the Canadian Constitution Foundation.
You can read about Ms. Holmes and the Canadian Constitution Foundation have caught the attention of religious right alert also. Feel free to search the site.
Who is blogging
Benediction Blogs On: How Canada’s Christian right was built
No Apologies: Marci McDonald’s conspiracy theory on Canada’s “Christian right”
Terahertz: Three days till Armageddon
Larry Lootsteen’s Blog: The Religious Right – In Canada, In Power
Ezra Levant: Does Joseph Ben-Ami wear a yarmulke because he’s a cardinal?
Dawg’s Blawg: Guy Laliberte for Prime Minister
the woodshed: Chuckles McVety wants to give you a wedgie
Marci McDonald will be speaking in Calgary about her new book, along with Donald Gutstein, on May 18th.
Info: http://calgarycouncil.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/do-christian-nationalism-and-business-propaganda-threaten-canadian-democracy/
(reposted to correct small typo…)
The subtext of Marci’s Toronto Star article reads “those who support the Conservatives are religious radicals”. This is laughable! I am a conservative. I support the Harper government. It may surprise Marci that I am an atheist… and that I fully support a woman’s right to choose and have no issue at all with gay marriage. Marci is clearly out of touch with the present day conservative voter.
To quote Marci…”When Harper came to office, he adopted an electoral script crafted by his ideological soulmates in the Republican Party”. Wow Marci – do you really believe this or are you just trying to sell books? Harper’s policies are in no way reflective of the US Republican party. The reality is that Harper is left of Obama. Unlike Harper, Obama does not endorse a publically funded universal health care system, Obama supports the right to bear arms, and endorses limits on late term abortions, not to mention the fact that he is freely and openly religious!
Your characterization of Conservatives as evangelicals is no more than common rhetoric. I’m an atheist and every single conservative that I know is an atheist. The mix of religious to non-religious conservatives simply mirrors society at large. In fact I would argue that there is more religion in the Liberal party than in the Conservative party. Marci (and the media in general) loves to pick on Christians, all the while finding no contradiction in supporting freedom of religion for new Canadian Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and the like – by and large supporters of the Liberal party.
Most educated Canadians understand that religion is absolute nonsense. For the majority of Canadians, religion is a non-issue and plays absolutely no part in the decision at the ballot box.
Marci – based on the excerpt I’ve read this book is anemic conspiracy theory and one lame attempt to enter the big leagues of religion bashing with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. Stick to your day job.
@Doug
Firstly Doug, there is no “subtext” written in Marci’s article so your post is misleading from its introduction.
Secondly, you must understand that Marci is not saying that all conservatives are Christian, let alone “radical”. She is merely introducing and qualifying the fact that the extreme religious right has gained many inroads into the current government, beyond the point you and I would probably ever be able, and through this infiltration, are influencing public policy based on their personal religious convictions, which you have to admit, are quite extreme.
As an atheist, I trust you understand this but I fail to understand your attacks on what Marci is stating. She has the evidence to support her claims and I’m surprised you aren’t more supportive of this. I am a secularist who has grave concerns about the influence of the religious right in this country and to be honest, I believe that even most moderate conservatives share these concerns.
I can’t understand how you can claim to be an atheist and fail to see the reality of what’s presented here. It’s not about conservatives versus liberals, it’s about an influence in Ottawa that should not exist but does.
Please do your homework on this subject for both, the value of this information and at the very least, to properly represent the concerns of atheists and secularists alike, especially if you profess to be one.
@ Tim
I don’t claim to be an atheist, rather I am an atheist. In fact I’m a rather assertive atheist and I’m somewhat intolerant of people that use unsupportable religious argument to defend a point of view.
The problem that I have with people like Marci is that they try to manufacture issues to create division where none should exist and in doing so, divert attention from the real issues of the day. Last I checked, in this country women have access to abortion, gays are free to marry and we have universal health coverage (although some NDP leaders prefer their private care – not to name names). Harper was elected in 2006 and we’ve been hearing about his hidden agenda ever since – ever ask yourself why it hasn’t surfaced? (Just wait until they have a majority – people like Marci would say…). These social non-issues are diverting attention from the real challenges this country now faces. Just pick up a paper and look at what is happening in Greece and soon in Spain, Portugal and Ireland. That sort of foreshadowing should be enough to demonstrate to any rational person that socialism has no future. From my point of view (which is currently shared by most Canadians) our Conservative government strikes the right balance between social liberalism and fiscal conservatism. You may scoff at the social liberalism part, but to deny that Canada currently has a generous social system is to deny reality.
People are rightly concerned with the economy and whether they will have a job tomorrow rather than worrying if the Canadian government will fund abortions for women in the third world – it’s a simple matter of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The Harper government offers the best plan and prospects for our future. Since taking office he has restored relations with our largest and most important trading partner. If things were left to the Liberals we wouldn’t even have free trade and it would continue to be fashionable to disparage our most important partner.
In summary, I would encourage Marci, you and others to focus on the real issues of the day. It’s time to stop pondering these esoteric, inconsequential social non-issues and focus on practical economic issues that affect every Canadian. While Marci and others navel gaze, Rome (and Greece too!) burn.
You can relax – there is no boogeyman behind the beady eyes (although I concede the beady eyes part!).
…one more point Tim. You state “She is merely introducing and qualifying the fact that the extreme religious right has gained many inroads into the current government, beyond the point you and I would probably ever be able, and through this infiltration, are influencing public policy based on their personal religious convictions..”
The Canadian Jewish Congress has been doing this for years. They have defined and continue to direct Canada’s policies in the middle east. By your agrument, should we not be equally concerned about this? I think it’s fair to ask Marci why she hasn’t penned a book on this subject.
Doug, perhaps this debate is better left until both you and I have read the book and are in a better position to debate these issues. I personally have spent years researching this subject and many of the players involved so I will approach it with some obvious bias at this point.
Let’s wait on continuing this conversation until you and I have both had a chance to read it in its entirety and we’ll see if we end up on the same page… figuratively speaking of course.
This might also save us some potential embarrassment based solely on speculation.
My name is Adam Revay, and I’m the Director of Development and Communications with the Canadian Constitution Foundation. I couldn’t help but notice that this article labels us as a “Christian Advocacy Group.” I find that rather entertaining given that I myself am an atheist, as is our Director of Litigation Karen Selick.
Our cases all involve constitutional FREEDOM, and it just so happens that a few of them involve the violations of rights of Christians. However, that is merely coincidence. Several of our cases involve freedom of speech; one involves the right to drink farm-fresh milk. One involves aboriginal issues. One involves government run health care. I would hope that it’s obvious these have nothing to do with Christianity.
Hi Adam:
According to Marci McDonald over at No Apologies that was a typo by the Toronto Star.
Here is Ms. McDonalds comment May 8, 2010
I trust the correction made in the post as well as your clarification will help. If we can be of further assistance, please ask.
Hi Bene Diction,
That correction definitely clears things up. No harm done.
I’ve noticed that we occasionally get honourable mention on your blog here. Thanks for the extra media attention.
If you ever have any questions (about us or our cases) you want to ask me or our legal staff, fire me an email. I’m always happy to help.
Obviously few of us have read the book yet. However, advance readings of portions and Marci’s prior articles clearly shows that she believes in slandering evangelical Christians with this; that we are trying to instigate Armageddon by our actions. If you’re not careful we will create a new Holocaust, so watch out for the “fundies”. I can only guess that no one really believes this. It’s purpose can only be to divide the Judeo-Christian conservative coaltion of mutual interests.
No evangelical denomination, church or pastor of any significance in the world believes this. You can fear and loath evangelicals all you want. It doesn’t give you the right to make up “facts” about us.
Tim:
“…it’s about an influence in Ottawa that should not exist but does.”
I’m very curious how those who propose this argument substantiate it. Are you saying that right-wing Christians should be excluded from having any say in government beyond the ballot-box? On what basis? Aren’t there political organizations and lobbyists from almost every ideology under the sun jockeying for influence?
At least the Christian Right does it largely from a position of grassroots support and without government handouts. You can’t say the same for a lot of the other influence hucksters in Ottawa.
If you are similarly opposed to the influence of businesses, environmentalists, gay rights advocates, feminists, Jews, Muslims, unions, etc, then I would respect your position as consistent. Somehow I doubt that’s the case.
“At least the Christian Right does it largely from a position of grassroots support and without government handouts.”
I think someone needs to read the book and understand the unprecedented “economic stimulus” doled out by the Harper government to the religious right institutions. As well, let me clearly state that no humanist or atheist group qualifies for charitable status, so don’t tell me there’s no government handouts for the religious right. I think you will find it comes in the form of a charitable donation and tax receipt. These organizations operate “tax free”. I hope that sheds a little more light on things.
I have just read the preface of the book. While Marci is obviously dramatizing every point a bit much, I commend her for shining a light on what is going on. I have strong religious views (they are all corrupt) and strong political views (they are all corrupt) but I would not want or expect to be able to gain a public office to support my beliefs, nor should any group.
I believe in God but do not attend or belong to any organized religion. I was seriously involved with many of them for about twenty years, ranging from catholic to charismatic to baptist to seventh day adventist, and in the end walked away from it all. If I had my way, not one dime of my tax dollars would subsidize organized religion.
I saw Marci pitted against a Conservative politician on TV the other night, Question Period I think? The publicly paid liar, or politician, was quite laughable and came off as a total idiot. I thought Marci did alright, but she could have done better. Maybe when I get further into the book I will see her need to demonize the Christian segment so intensely, but if you believe in separation of church and state why not make that your leading case. Christian nationalists are a scary bunch, much more than most know, but they are not the only ones. I found myself wishing I could say to Marci’s combatant “You and I are so far apart, and I hope you can understand that, if we were allowed to promote religious beliefs, I would not want you to be moulding public policy any more than you would want me to be doing it.”
I am half way through Marci’s book and I will finish it but not because I enjoy it. While I agree that the Religious Right is growing and even encouraged by some members of our government, I find much of her conjecture just as offensive. Marci obviously has a distaste for anything that is faith-based, especially Christian. She wastes far too much ink on the extremist elements, and then makes implications that are just to wild to take serious.
Yes there are scary extremists hard at work, and yes they should not be allowed to operate incognito. But I seriously doubt they are going to hijack this or any government. If the conservatives are courting the religious right to the degree that Marci would want us to believe, they will pay for it in the polls eventually.
I think rather, if the problem is as bad as Marci paints it, the extremist element will crash and burn soon. Let us pray