Montreal, October 22, 2025 — “The loss of freedom of religion, conscience, and conviction follows virtually the same curve as that of freedom of the press, once again this year.”
Marie-Claude Lalonde, National Director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada for the past 25 years, is observing this trend with increasing clarity.
“The map prepared by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) for their report, and the one produced by ACN for the Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025, do not lie. The loss of press freedom, as recorded by RSF, and the loss of religious freedom documented by ACN in its report published on October 21, are almost identical. It’s disconcerting!”
While she is unfortunately not surprised by the deterioration of this fundamental right in other parts of the world, Ms. Lalonde is now concerned about the rise in violence and acts of intolerance right here in Canada. “I used to say that here, it was mostly about indifference or discomfort with religion. That is no longer the case. Over the past two years, we have seen an increase in hate crimes of a religious nature and, above all, a barely concealed discrimination.”
She adds: “In Quebec, it is difficult not to be concerned when the statements from Mr. Legault’s government are moving toward a closed form of laicity, opposed to any religious expression in the public space. In this sense, I share the concerns of the bishops of Quebec. How far will we go in restricting religious freedom?”
A freedom to protect
The 2025 Report by ACN highlights a 32% increase in hate crimes of a religious nature in Canada, mainly affecting Jewish and Muslim communities—a trend also observed in other OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) countries.
Between 2021 and 2024, 33 churches were set on fire in Canada, 24 of which have been confirmed as criminal acts. “This is cause for concern,” says Ms. Lalonde.
Another cause for concern: the freedom of conscience in relation to euthanasia. “Will healthcare workers or institutions like Maison Saint-Raphaël in Montreal still be able to provide care that respects the values held by the staff and management of the establishment?” she asks. “This question is now being raised across Canada, and we must clearly reaffirm the importance of respecting freedom of conscience, and that of religious freedom, of course. Failing to do so would be a serious violation of these fundamental rights, which are protected by Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Religious freedom is a freedom that must be protected, and as our slogan this year says: religious freedom is a right, not a privilege,” she concludes.
To learn more:
📘 Read the full report and sign the petition to defend the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion everywhere in the world:
👉 https://acn-canada.org/rfr/
