 |
| Contribute Photos by emailing to fideidefensor@hotmail.co.uk |
We kick off a trilogy of articles from Ahmadi Muslim Sisters over this weekend with Sister Raindrop's running series of opinion articles on issues affecting Muslims in the West:
The federal government of Canada has decided to cancel the contracts of non-Christian chaplains at federal prisons. This means that all inmates of other faiths (such as Muslims, Sikhs, Jews, and Buddhists) will have to rely on the services of a Christian prison chaplain for religious guidance. The story has garnered a lot of attention, and is causing many to rightfully question the message that such a decision sends out.
Who's behind the decision? Vic Toews, the Public Safety Minister. Mr. Toews made headlines last month as well, due to reversing the hiring of a Wiccan Prison Chaplain. Apparently, Mr. Toews “strongly supports the freedom of religion for all Canadians, including prisoners” or so an email issued from his office to CBC states. However, he doesn’t think it’s the government’s job to decide “which religions will be given preferential status through government funding”. Utterly ironic since the government has very blatantly done precisely that. They have chosen Christian chaplains over all other faiths to fund. It’s important to ask, why couldn’t Jewish Rabbis, Muslim Imams, or spiritual leaders from any other faith be the ones chosen to provide this “multi-faith” counselling?
According to data collected in 2011, 57% of the inmates in federal custody (out of 23, 000) claimed to be Christian. As for other faiths, 4.5% were Muslim, 4% were native, 2% Buddhist, and both Jewish and Sikh representations were less than 1%. Out of around 200 full-time and part-time chaplains, only 21 were non-Christian, according to data collected by CBC. Will firing these 21 non-Christian religious figures honestly save the government any significant amount of money? Is doing so ethical? Instead, why doesn’t the government hire chaplains/religious figures in proportion to such statistics? The total cost of the chaplain program amounts to $6.4 million a year, and it is unclear how much these cut-backs will help with the finances.
When the Wiccan priest was fired from the job, which was soon after she was hired, many spoke out. The government is constitutionally obliged to provide the spiritual leader and not discriminate, as stated by B.C. Civil Liberties Association. Numerous people have remarked on the unfairness of such a decision by the government. Others have questioned the need to “hire” chaplains, who some believe should be providing these services for free. When such unexpected incidents occur, which go against the very values society has affirmed for itself, what should be done? When, if ever, is it okay to let such incidents slip unquestioned? How can doing so effect the way society defines itself, especially in terms of religious and cultural acceptance? Issues such as this one cause such questions to resurface, making it crucial for the sake of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, that they be answered.
0 Comments