The Bloc Québécois can count on significant support for its crusade to dismiss the reading of the prayer in the House of Commons and replace it with a moment of reflection: the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops himself “Strongly agrees.
Praying to God and voting is a bit annoying, it seems illogicalsummary by Bishop Raymond Poisson in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Instead of elected officials, I will vote for a moment of reflection that leaves space for everyone to express in their internal forum their religious or non-religious referencehe said.
The question of secularism came back to the fore this week when the Bloc Québécois forced elected officials to vote on a motion intended to end this practice observed at the beginning of every sitting, but the Conservatives and almost all liberals oppose it.
The Bloc Québécois suggested that the prayer, beginning with Almighty God and ends in Amenor replaced by a moment of reflection.
Society prospered, Bishop Poisson acknowledged.
” In 2022, we will be in a very multicultural and multi-religious, multi-religious society, and there will be people with religious references and others without. “
The cooling off period will not only allow believers to ask questions the help of God or their religious reference for the decisions they will make but to also offer others a chance to reflect.
The Roman Catholic bishop noticed that it would settle the matter, because when we pray, inevitably, we must use words.
However, beware of the idea of evacuation symbols of history such as religious references contained in the Canadian Constitution or national anthem, he warned, responding to the idea of making other adjustments.
The national anthem is a rallying anthem, but it’s not there just to say it now. He is there to say what we were, what we are and what we are.
The Bloc will not insist … for now
In the Bloc Québécois, the critic for secularism, Martin Champoux, who filed this motion, found it difficult to hide his joy after learning of Bishop Poisson’s opinion, saying he was the same. surprised at gladeven nambobola.
A prayer has been recited at the beginning of each session since 1877 but has only been included in the terms since 1927.
This is not the first attempt by the Bloc Québécois to end it. The formation failed to get Chamber approval in 2019.
After the recent defeat on Wednesday, Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet did not rule out a return to billing during discussions planned over the next few months on House rules.
However, Mr. Champoux dismissed this idea on Friday, preferring to return the ball to the court of government and other parties so that they themselves propose to launch this discussion in light of the comments of the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
We gave the members, the House and the parties the opportunity to debate it, to vote on the question, which we did on Wednesday, with the result that 266 members preferred to keep the prayer.he argued.
” We will not go back to the charge with another debate about it, another motion about it. “
According to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, before each sitting, the Speaker takes his seat and recites the prayer partly in French and partly in English. Members should be on their feet during this time.
Work should begin two minutes after the reading. This is when the doors are opened and the television of the proceedings begins.
Source: Radio-Canada
