Date posted on June 22, 2023
On June 22nd 2023, Feast of St. Thomas More, the CCCB Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace has released a Pastoral Letter titled Living as Catholics in the Public Square: Freedom of Religion and Conscience in Canada. This document emphasizes the significance of freedom of religion and conscience in our democratic society and explores the role of Catholics in courageously living out their faith in the public square. It is the fulfilment of a priority received by the Commission from the 2019 Plenary Assembly, which was “to prepare a document on the erosion of Charter rights”, offering particular attention to religious freedom and the persecution of Christians. The text received final approval from the Permanent Council at its November 2022 meeting.
Please find below the text of the Pastoral Letter, in English and French.