Worship in peace
Charles Lewis, National Post :
The idea was first suggested in the midst of the federal election campaign, the kind of proposal that was politically astute because it targeted the religious ethnic communities the Conservatives needed to win a majority: A promised office of religious freedom that would monitor abuses against persecuted minorities around the world.
Tom Flanagan, a former advisor to Stephen Harper and professor of political science at the University of Calgary, said the Tory promise was good policy as well as good politics: The proposal would resonate with new Canadians, particularly Christians, many of whom were persecuted in their homelands.
Besides, he said, the Department of Foreign Affairs had never really shown much interest in exposing religious persecution.
“To have an office to report on religious persecution would be a step forward for this country,” he said.