Pastoral Letter
Living as Catholics
in the Public Square
Freedom of Religion and Conscience in Canada
On the occasion of the Feast of St. Thomas Moore, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the CCCB has released a pastoral letter highlighting the importance of religious freedom and the need for Catholics to actively defend and live out their faith in the public square. The letter, titled “Living as Catholics in the Public Square: Freedom of Religion and Conscience in Canada,” addresses the challenges faced by the Catholic Church in upholding its mission in an increasingly secular society.
Quoting from a previous pastoral letter on the same topic, “Living as Catholics in the Public Square” emphasizes the Church’s claim to religious freedom as a means to fulfill its specific mission of proclaiming the Gospel to all people stating, “The Catholic Church claims the right to religious freedom in order to fulfill her specific mission. In obedience to Christ’s command (cf. Mt 28:19-20), she proposes the Gospel to all people, which she is duty bound to do, because Jesus Christ is “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6).”
The document highlights that freedom of religion and conscience, along with other fundamental freedoms, form the foundation of Canadian democracy and reflect the shared human experience as bearers of God’s image and likeness. It emphasizes that everyone within the Catholic community has a role in defending religious freedom and publicly living out a vibrant Catholic faith.
Rooted in the inherent dignity of every human person, the exercise of freedom of religion and conscience is proclaimed as a fundamental right. The letter explains that these freedoms enable individuals to live fully and make sense of the world by encountering God, addressing basic questions of identity, relationships, and meaning.
The Episcopal Commission underscores that the defense of religious freedom is essential to preserving the interior life and deepest longings of individuals stating, “Freedom of religion and freedom of conscience are related freedoms that enable us to live fully as we are, as we are called to be.” Diminishing religious freedom risks eroding the fabric of shared spiritual lives within society, with severe consequences.
Addressing the role of the State, the letter highlights the obligation of public institutions to uphold fundamental freedoms and foster a common life ordered toward the common good. However, it expresses concern that Canadian public institutions have often failed to embrace genuine pluralism and have limited the public manifestation of religious beliefs and conscientious views, particularly those that challenge prevailing social norms.
The pastoral letter stresses that religious freedom is not an end in itself but a means to publicly exercise authentic religion. It calls for Catholics to live out their faith boldly and authentically, rooted in prayer, liturgical life, and evangelization. By doing so, they can defend religious freedom effectively and manifest its true value to society.
The letter concludes by asserting that the public square should be a space where individuals of different perspectives and identities come together while embracing their shared humanity, “In short, our posture must be that of the Apostle Peter on that first Pentecost, where his first act was to enter the public square of Jerusalem and draw people to Christ. We are called, like Peter, to give an explicit account of the faith that is within us (1 Peter 3:15), to let that faith radiate through our actions, to uphold what is true, and to love. Let us not fear to witness to our belief in Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
The full pastoral letter, “Living as Catholics in the Public Square: Freedom of Religion and Conscience in Canada,” can be read at the links below:
