cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/19670880

“The 2015 decision by the Supreme Court in Saguenay, (QC), prohibits municipal councils from including prayer in their meetings and in the last two inaugural meetings, in 2018 and 2022, Parksville has included prayers, overtly religious prayers, in their inaugural meetings and that’s a violation of the constitution,” said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, the research coordinator with the BC Humanist Association.

https://www.bchumanist.ca/donate

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    85 months ago

    Even if you prove there is a god does not mean I want to be governed by them. Keep your religion in your church or your own home or your own head.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    15 months ago

    If you watch municipal or provincial news conferences it’s fairly common to hear a First Nation blessing at its start, like a recent one in front of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Tuesday.

    “The increase in Indigenous content is a good sign. It shows that municipalities are stepping up and, at least symbolically, embracing reconciliation and this is also a category of action that falls outside the Supreme Court ruling in Saguenay,” said Phelps Bondaroff.

    Honest question: isn’t having the First Nation blessing violating the same constitution that the prayer is? Obviously the prayer is an obvious violation, but replacing it doesn’t seem to be the answer as far as I can tell.

    • TSG_Asmodeus (he, him)
      link
      English
      55 months ago

      If you watch municipal or provincial news conferences it’s fairly common to hear a First Nation blessing at its start, like a recent one in front of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Tuesday.

      What’s weird is the video doesn’t show it, and the article doesn’t quote it. That said, I think if anything, it’s a fantastic compromise. Now not only are we removing direct religious action, we’re replacing it with something that helps with reconciliation.

      I would also argue there’s a pretty large difference between people in power using their own religion to open an event like this, and people in power giving space to those without power to open an event.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      55 months ago

      I would say it’s because our white-man* laws came after, and the typical indigenous pretext at meetings is acknowledging that we are gathered on the unceded territory. So really they are letting us have a meeting with their blessing/permission.

      Also they say unceded as a nice way; instead of juat saying stolen with acts of genocide.

      *or woman ~ Monty Python

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      35 months ago

      It’s because it’s not religion, it’s spiritually and culture. Shit bro most of them doing the things are Christians or Catholic

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    -195 months ago

    They are butt hurt. This is nothing more than crying over individuals expressing a belief that there is something more important than themself, greater than themself.

    It actually is possible to reject someone’s belief while allowing them to pray in a public space. If it’s not in a dedicated reigious building, they are not harming anyone by saying words.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      75 months ago

      You’re right, it is possible to reject someone’s belief while letting them pray in a public space.

      However, when you tangle the prayer into governance you send a signal that the religious practice will, on some level, inform how the people are governed. And that’s not okay in our society.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        -85 months ago

        No, there must be no establishment of religion, abd no restrictions there of. Members of government are free to pratice their faith in office.

        If there is restriction on every and all forms of religion while in upblic office, there must restrictions on those who are against religion, they will be denied speech to comment on religion and be denied the ability to express any objection to religion.

        • @Adm_Drummer
          link
          65 months ago

          Church belongs nowhere near the state.

          Should you practice, you are not restricted from being religious in private. You are however restricted from incorporating that religion into the government you run.

          That’s all. Quit being unhinged.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            -75 months ago

            It’s not possibke to be in government and someone not push what they believe. Since they are the ones making decisions that affect the lives of other people, then they are ultimately propagating some kind of a message. If you are anti-religion, then the government is run on an anti religion belief system and preaching a government message of anti-religion.

            There is zero seperation between being a part of government and personal beliefs for those in government. If members of government practice their religion pulibly in office, in hinders on no one else.

            If you are atheist, that is still a religion because you put your faith and belief in there beig ni God. So everybody is pushing sone kind of a message. Your argument is entirely one sided, a demand that the government can only be run in a way that suites you.

            It’s revealing how there are religious people who have no concerns about if others are religious or not, they live their own life regardless of others, but someone active avainst all religions seems to demand that others are not allowed to be religious in public. Very childish and self absorbed. It sounds like the issue is you you want zero accountability. You can’t handle anybody criticizing your choices and criticiing your lifestyle.

            • @Adm_Drummer
              link
              2
              edit-2
              5 months ago

              I don’t put my faith in believing there is no god. I know there is no god.

              That said… It is literally the job of a politician in a secular society to enact change not guided by their religious views but by the desires of their constituents backed by the latest studies, research and science at the time. A god has no part in it.

              I’m not even going to read your wall of text. Go find yourself a cozy theocracy to live in if you think the government should be influenced by religion.

            • @[email protected]
              link
              fedilink
              15 months ago

              Looks like you are the one who is but hurt about others not wanting to be ruled by your imaginary friend in the sky.