In Canada, the Permanent Council of the Canadian bishops’ Conference has voiced strong opposition to the Finance Minister over proposed changes to eligibility criteria for charitable status. In a March 10 letter to Dominic Leblanc, the Bishop’s Council challenged recommendations 429 and 430 of pre-budget consultations for the 2025 budget.
These proposed ending charitable status for anti-abortion organizations and removing the privileged status of ‘advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose.
Bishops’ grave concerns over new charitable status proposals
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB; Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada) is the national assembly of the bishops of the Catholic Church in Canada. It was founded in 1943 and officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948.
Since the Second Vatican Council, it has been part of a worldwide network of episcopal conferences established in 1965. Until 1977, it was called the Canadian Catholic Conference, when the present name was adopted.
According to its statutes, the bishops exercise certain pastoral functions for Catholics in Canada together, respecting each bishop’s autonomy in serving his particular church.
Through the work of its members, the conference is involved in matters of national and international scope in areas such as ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, social justice, aid to developing countries, the protection of human life, liturgy and Christian education. It also provides the bishops a forum to share their experience and insight into the church’s life and the significant events shaping society.
The conference members include all diocesan bishops in Canada, those equivalent to them in law, and all coadjutor and auxiliary bishops. Also included in the conference are titular bishops of any rite within the Catholic Church who exercise in the territory a special office assigned to them by the Apostolic See or by the conference.
Religious charities face uncertainty amid growing political tensions
According to the Bishops, these recommendations endanger the future of Canada’s entire charitable space because 40 per cent of all charitable organizations in Canada are faith-based. They expressed their concerns that it targets pro-life groups and risks granting preferential treatment to organizations that align with a sitting government’s agenda rather than basing charitable status on established legal principles.
“Given the fundamental and contributing role of religious charities in Canadian society, we urge the government to abandon Recommendations 429 and 430,” the bishops wrote in their letter, which was cc’d to outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, other party leaders, cabinet ministers, and opposition critics.
The Bishops have implored the government to void any legislative changes that would disproportionately target, destabilize or harm faith-based organizations, inadvertently affecting the millions of Canadians who benefit from their initiatives. The permanent council’s letter read that Campaign Life Coalition would be affected should such changes be adopted and applauded.
“Thank God the Canadian bishops have joined in this fight to save Christian Canada,” said Campaign Life national president Jeff Gunnarson. Canada, as our Charter states, ‘is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God.’ The government is attacking the very foundation of our country with these proposals. United together, we will stave off this governmental assault on our nation and our treasured faith.”
The conference president Bishop William McGrattan of Calgary, vice president Bishop Pierre Goudreault of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatiere, Cardinals Francis Leo of Toronto and Gerald Lacroix of Quebec and Montreal Archbishop Christian Lépine were among the 14 signatures on the letter. As political discussions continue to unfold, faith-based organizations are left uncertain about the future of their charitable status.