TORONTO (OSV Information) — Rewind the clock to a little bit over one 12 months in the past.
The Canadian Human Rights Fee was attracting scorn for a dialogue paper declaring that statutory holidays reminiscent of Christmas are a manifestation of the “discrimination in opposition to non secular minorities in Canada” and “grounded in Canada’s historical past of colonialism.”
Critics decried that the fee was labeling Christmas as a racist observance — the company launched one other assertion declaring it did no such factor — and a hanging instance of rising anti-Christian hostility within the public sq..
This discourse notably bothered Molly Banerjei, co-founder of the Christian Music Pageant in Toronto alongside her husband, Jay.
“After we learn that, we realized, ‘Oh my God, we’re heading in direction of persecution,’” mentioned Banerjei in an interview with The Catholic Register, Canada’s nationwide Catholic newspaper based mostly in Toronto. “They’re about to declare the entire faith that these festivals belong to as racist. After which what occurs to establishments which are racist?”
The Banerjeis and a big host of Christians from coast to coast have been decided to counteract this obvious antagonism in opposition to their religion. A public marketing campaign was waged in cities, cities and villages throughout the nation for December to be hailed as Christian Heritage Month.
On Nov. 14, the script was formally flipped, and this grassroots effort attained its most seismic victory so far: Toronto Metropolis Council voted that Canada’s largest metropolis would commemorate the ultimate month of the 12 months as Christian Heritage Month.
Toronto is one in all 35 municipalities which have assented to this initiative as of Nov. 25. Ottawa, Markham and Vaughan in Ontario; Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan; Okotoks and Pink Deer in Alberta; and Prince George and Whistler in British Columbia are just some of the settings saluting Christian Heritage Month. Many are holding particular flag-raising ceremonies to mark the event.
Although this effort was greeted with little resistance in lots of the 35 cities or cities, this was not the case in Toronto. An emotionally heated debate between councillors preceded the night vote.
Councillor Gord Perks, throughout a prolonged diatribe, declared “that Canada as an entity is soaked and steeped within the Christian Church, they don’t want separate recognition.” He mentioned when the town does one thing like “acknowledge a unique group,” reminiscent of Sikh Heritage Month or Hindu Heritage Month, it’s an “effort to rebalance.”
Perks then inspired his colleagues to vote down the movement as a result of ‘”Christian Heritage’ is just not a impartial phrase within the Canadian political panorama,” alluding to the pro-life, socially conservative Christian Heritage Celebration.
“That celebration is anti-abortion, anti-same-sex marriage, says that Islam is a menace to democracy, denies that local weather change is attributable to CO2,” mentioned Perks. The politician additionally recommended that “in case you actually wish to go down the rabbit gap,” Google the phrase “Christian Heritage Entrance.”
Banerjei dismissed all of Perks’ claims linking Christianity and in flip occasions just like the Christian Music Pageant to any Canadian or American political teams or associations “as baseless” and added that his name to “rebalance” by recognizing each different cultural group and non secular denomination sans Christians as “a nasty argument.”
“These are individuals who declare to be truthful, equitable and inclusive — all these buzzwords — after which he excluded not solely the biggest religion group but additionally essentially the most numerous,” mentioned Banerjei.
Over the previous 9 years the Banerjeis, each of Indian descent, have orchestrated the Christian Music Pageant in Toronto’s Nathan Philips Sq.. Molly Banerjei mentioned the 15,000-20,000 attendees come from 60 to 70 ethnic teams.
Although Perks and others’ remarks have been discouraging, Councillor Lily Cheng delivered a heartening and emotional tackle. Throughout her speech, she declared, “Christianity saved my life.”
“I struggled with consuming issues and melancholy. I had plenty of challenges as a result of I had adversarial childhood occasions that I didn’t even know have been having such a troublesome influence on me,” mentioned Cheng throughout the assembly. “Type, gracious individuals liked me and confirmed me that I used to be worthy to be liked, that I didn’t even know that, and so they walked with me so patiently, and who I’m at this time wouldn’t be with out this religion that has carried me.”
Cheng alluded to “darkish issues” of the previous but additionally affirmed that “there’s a lot good and wonder in Christianity,” and cited that Christians make up 34.9% of Toronto’s inhabitants.
Whereas the Banerjei duo have been notably vigorous in Toronto, others reminiscent of Ghada Melek, a member of the Canada Again to GOD motion, have been at work in different municipalities. She informed the Register she was excited to attend the Christian Heritage Month flag ceremony in Mississauga Dec. 4.
Melek, who hails from a tradition in Egypt the place “Christians are marginalized, persecuted and never given equal therapy,” expressed gratitude for Cheng’s braveness to share her testimony.
“I really feel that individuals like her are courageous and it’s necessary to face up as a result of generally we lose our voice,” mentioned Melek. “Plenty of Christians favor to remain quiet, however it’s time to rise up for our religion. We have to know our religion and historical past to separate the reality from the propaganda as a result of we too get confused.”
Banerjei is looking on followers of Christ to mark this heritage month by recognizing the ties that bind denominations, expressing their religion joyfully and to embody the Christian values of affection, service and compassion.
Melek mentioned it is very important acknowledge Sam Kunjicka, a resident of Brampton within the Better Toronto space, as a forerunner of this motion. The volunteers he mobilized from native church buildings satisfied Brampton Metropolis Council on Nov. 20, 2019, to unanimously approve December as Christian Heritage Month.
Banerjei signaled that Christian Heritage Month is an ascending pressure with extra to perform. She needs the observance acknowledged in additional main cities, together with Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is engaged on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to declare Christian Heritage Month provincially and in addition is pushing for federal recognition.
Quinton Amundson is a workers author for The Catholic Register, Canada’s nationwide Catholic newspaper based mostly in Toronto.
