Unbelievable: Preaching Could Become a Crime

February 12, 2026

Pastor,With,A,Bible,In,His,Hand,During,A,Sermon.

Canadian Liberals and their Bloc Québécois allies are advancing legislation that faith leaders warn could silence religious expression and subject pastors to criminal prosecution for preaching biblical teachings on sexuality.

Story Snapshot

Bill C-9 removes long-standing religious speech protections while broadening hate speech definitions, threatening clergy with up to two years imprisonment
Justice Committee voted December 9, 2025 to eliminate the “good faith religious defence,” then paused debate indefinitely on January 26, 2026
Coalition of faith groups including Catholic Bishops and Christian charities warn the bill mirrors UK-style enforcement that led to 12,000 arrests for “offensive” posts
Liberal MPs dismiss concerns as “absurd” while religious communities across denominations unite in opposition to protect constitutional freedoms

Bill C-9 Strips Protections for Religious Speech

The Liberal government’s Combatting Hate Act fundamentally alters Canada’s approach to religious expression by eliminating Section 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code, which has protected sincere religious opinions since 1970. The Justice Committee voted on December 9, 2025 to remove this “good faith religious defence,” leaving clergy and faith communities vulnerable to prosecution for quoting scripture on topics like homosexuality or adultery. The bill also expands the definition of hate from requiring both “detestation and vilification” to just “detestation or vilification,” significantly lowering the threshold for criminal charges while removing the Attorney General’s consent requirement for prosecutions.

Faith Communities Sound Alarm on Constitutional Threat

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Canadian Council of Christian Charities, Catholic Civil Rights League, and Voice of the Martyrs Canada have mobilized against Bill C-9, warning it creates dangerous uncertainty for religious teaching. These organizations argue the legislation erodes Canada’s tradition of pluralism by subjecting religious doctrine to subjective interpretation by prosecutors. Law professor Bruce Pardy testified that the bill enables discretionary enforcement without clear notice of where lines are drawn, echoing concerns about Britain’s mass arrests for social media posts. A petition to Parliament highlights risks not just for Christians, but for anyone quoting the Bible, Quran, or Torah on moral issues.

Liberal Politicians Dismiss Religious Freedom Concerns

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather has called fears about criminalizing biblical quotes “absurd,” insisting the bill targets genuine hate crimes rather than religious teaching. The government frames Bill C-9 as necessary to combat rising antisemitism and hate incidents following the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly harassment at worship sites. Liberal MP Marc Miller, who took his oath on both the Quran and Bible, paradoxically opposes maintaining religious defences for hate speech provisions. The Justice Minister’s department emphasizes the bill’s intent to protect religious communities from violence, yet offers no explanation for why existing protections for religious expression must be eliminated to achieve that goal.

Pause in Committee Debate Provides Temporary Reprieve

On January 26, 2026, the Justice Committee announced an indefinite pause on Bill C-9 debates to prioritize Bill C-14 on bail reform, providing at least a two-week delay with no resumption date confirmed. The Canadian Council of Christian Charities welcomed this pause while urging the government to restore the good faith religious defence and maintain Supreme Court precedents on narrow hate speech definitions. However, with the committee having already voted to repeal religious protections, the bill remains poised for advancement once deliberations resume. Faith leaders warn that without clear safeguards, the legislation will chill religious speech as pastors self-censor to avoid prosecution.

Precedent for Overreach Raises Stakes for Free Expression

Critics point to the United Kingdom’s experience with expansive hate speech enforcement, where authorities made 12,000 arrests in 2023 for “offensive” social media posts, as a cautionary tale for Canada. Bill C-9’s removal of Attorney General consent for prosecutions means local authorities could pursue cases without centralized oversight, increasing risks of inconsistent and politically motivated enforcement. Floyd Brobbel of Voice of the Martyrs Canada emphasizes the bill threatens protections for all faiths, not just Christianity, in a multicultural society where religious teachings often address controversial moral questions. The Canadian Council of Christian Charities notes that while the good faith defence has never been successfully invoked, its removal sends an unmistakable message that religious expression now stands on uncertain legal ground.

Liberals return to pushing Bill C-9, which could criminalize quoting Bible on homosexuality – LifeSite https://t.co/i4nT2SJvj2

— Just Me (@Becky7pd) February 10, 2026

Constitutional Values Face Direct Challenge

This legislation represents a fundamental shift in how Canada balances free speech and religious liberty against government control of expression. The Supreme Court’s precedent in R. v. Keegstra emphasized narrow definitions of hate to protect constitutional freedoms, yet Bill C-9 deliberately expands those definitions while eliminating safeguards. For conservative Canadians who value limited government and individual liberty, the bill exemplifies government overreach into matters of conscience and faith. The coalition of religious organizations spanning Catholic, Protestant, and other denominations demonstrates widespread recognition that once the government can criminalize religious teachings, no sincerely held belief remains safe from prosecution. The temporary pause offers a window for citizens to demand their representatives uphold Charter protections rather than sacrifice religious freedom on the altar of subjective hate speech enforcement.