October 15, 2007
The Protestant Partnership on Education Submits their Position Paper
to the Bouchard-Taylor Commission
Montreal – “We want a Quebec where our children will be happy, happy to express without constraint their beliefs and their religious practices. We want for Quebec a healthy understanding of laicity.”
The Protestant Partnership on Education has submitted their position paper to the Bouchard-Taylor Commission. Rev. Roland Grimard, President of the Protestant Partnership, and Dr. Glenn Smith, former President of the Partnership (1993-2003), will present the paper during the hearings in Laval on November 14 and 15.
A Quebec consortium of over 20 Protestant denominations, The Protestant Partnership has served since 1993 as the official voice for Protestants to the Provincial Government on all matters in Religious Education.
The fundamental question that the Partnership will attempt to answer is this: “How can peace and justice be possible in a society characterized by a plurality of cultures, religions and worldviews?”
This paper presents the fundamental principles that Protestants hold in reference to diversity and proposes to the government a position on laicity.
Laicity is defined by the government as « un cadre d’aménagement des rapports de l’État avec des groupes de convictions religieuses ». Therefore, this should not sweep away all forms of religious expression. Rather, this definition should permit the public expression of faith in all aspects of private and public life and permit religious and secular aspects to overlap and influence each other.
Protestants represent one of the most important minority groups in Quebec and includes Francophones, Anglophones and many from the cultural communities. With the dramatic increase in immigrant population, now one third of the people attending a Protestant Church on a weekly basis attend a multi-cultural church, now surpassing the number of Anglophones. For example, in the last five years, 10 new Congolese churches have been launched. Protestants have always been a pluralistic group and they are well placed to propose a plurality that is founded on civic responsibility.
The Partnership adheres to the “open laicity” that the government proposes through the Ethics and Religious Culture Program and recommends that schools not legislate the removal of religious symbols in public space nor on persons of differing religions.
“In as much as possible, be at peace with all people.” Romans 12:18, the Holy Bible
