Sen. Josh Hawley urges USCIRF to add Canada to Watch List | Politics News | The Christian Post
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri has urged the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to consider placing Canada on its Watch List due to its continued lockdown restrictions, arrests of Christian pastors and seizure of church property.
Hawley called out what he deems as the government’s systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom, adding that he’s deeply concerned that freedom is in peril across our nation s northern border.”
Some congregations in Canada have seen the forced closure of church buildings, arrests of pastors, in addition to stiff fines and jail time for church leaders over their defiance of authorities’ ongoing lockdown orders in response to COVID-19.
Many have contended that secular entities, non-Christian religious gatherings and protesters have also gathered in large numbers but haven’t faced similar penalties.