Today we received a bookmark in the church bulletin — from our MP Bev Shipley, with his smiling face, quoting from 1 Timothy 2 and asking us to pray for the PM, MPs, opposition parties and their leaders, MPPs and their leaders and municipal government. It ended with
As your MP I covet your prayers that we may lead according to the scriptural foundation upon which our country was foundedand Conservative Party of Canada.On the back was O Canada, all 3 verses, in English only.
O Canada, our English Christian land
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It always makes me uncomfortable to see religion pushed into politics in this way. Canada has been pretty good at the separation of church-and-state, at least a federal level, for a good while. Can’t really say that it doesn’t come into play at the riding level or individual events because religion is a useful organizational tool. The “scriptural foundation” bit is pretty rich. I believe governance is a “human” creation and the God has no interest in it – render unto Caesar and all that. Acknowledging ones faith is fine, but trying to push it on everyone is what gets to me. You can behave in a certain way and you can influence, but the best influence is your behaviour. I gotta be careful not to rant endless on though…
Remember – our tax dollars paid for all those bookmarks.