Religious Freedom

We humbly suggest:

Religious freedom is foundational to a vibrant pluralism and functioning democracy.
Canadians have constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of conscience and religion, of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, and of association.
Canadians should exercise these freedoms in their private lives and in the public square, without fear and “subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society” (Charter).
The Crown, legislatures, media, professional associations, and other institutions should recognize, affirm, and respect these freedoms.

Supporting Research

Andrew Bennett, Aaron Neil

October 28, 2019

“Know thyself.” This ancient Greek maxim is popular today, but also widely misunderstood. Self knowledge goes deeper than awareness of your likes, dislikes, and personal interests. To know who you are, is to know what you are. What kind of being am I? What does it mean to be human? Do I have dignity? Who Are You? Reaffirming Human Dignity from the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute will help you answer these questions.

Our Inner Guide: Protecting Freedom of Conscience

September 27, 2021

Conscience, though inherently individual, is vital to the common good. Using current case studies from Canada that engage freedom of conscience, this paper offers concrete recommendations as to how this human right can be robustly protected at home and abroad.

An Institutional History of Religious Freedom in Canada

April 3, 2020

This paper aims to provide a historical context for why freedom of religion and conscience is foundational to Canadian democracy, diversity, pluralism, and to our common life as human beings living in this place, this Canada.

All Supporting Research (18)

Explorations

Exit COVID: Toward What Matters Most (Two Night Virtual Event)

June 22, 2021

Join us as we Exit COVID: Toward what matters most.

London Murders Wound Us All

Andrew Bennett

June 10, 2021

The killing of a Muslim family in the southwestern Ontario city demands empathy for the victims, but also renewed commitment to freedom of faith, Father Deacon Andrew Bennett writes.

Canada’s Common Spiritual Hunger

Ray Pennings

May 31, 2021

After last week’s online National Prayer Breakfast, Cardus Executive Vice President Ray Pennings reflected in his weekly Insights newsletter on how to pray in public – and pluralistic – spaces. Convivium reprints his text.

All Explorations (170)

Media Coverage

When Conscience Is Attacked, the Ground Beneath Us Shakes

October 10, 2021

Moral and ethical reflection, making normative sense of the world and striving to live accordingly, is an essential part of being human. Public leaders need to better grasp the role that conscience rights play in a free and democratic society. If they do not, freedom of conscience and the kind of society we cherish will eventually disappear.