A vote in Canada’s House of Commons has set the stage for the rapid passage of Bill C-9, legislation that has ignited a fierce backlash from religious leaders who warn it could criminalize core expressions of faith. With debate abruptly cut off by a 186–144 vote led by Liberal and Bloc Québécois MPs, the bill now advances toward final approval, raising alarm among Christian groups who say the measure strips away long-standing protections for quoting Scripture.

Bill C-9, known as the “Combating Hate Act,” introduces new hate-related offenses while also removing a religious exemption that had shielded individuals from prosecution if their statements were made in good faith and rooted in sincerely held beliefs. Critics argue that this change exposes clergy and laypeople alike to criminal liability for articulating traditional teachings on marriage, gender, and the sanctity of life.

David Cooke of Campaign Life Coalition stated that the legislation “will certainly result in the prosecution of Canadian Christians who quote Holy Scripture in defence of God’s design for marriage, gender, and the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.” He added that removing the requirement for Attorney General approval could allow police to act on complaints without Attorney General approval, dramatically increasing the likelihood of charges.

Christian leaders point to previous cases in which street preachers were investigated or charged for public expressions of biblical teaching. They argue that Bill C-9 will expand such enforcement. Conservative MP Andrew Lawton wrote that the bill is being “rammed through” without meaningful debate, while MP Larry Brock called the move to end discussion an unacceptable attempt to silence concerns about religious freedom.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a formal warning after the government removed the religious exemption clause. In a letter to lawmakers, Cardinal Frank Leo wrote that while combating hatred is necessary, “this should not come at the cost of diminishing or doing away with basic, fundamental civil liberties.” He urged the Senate to amend the bill to explicitly protect the reading and teaching of Scripture.

At the center of the concern is the possibility that passages from the Bible addressing moral conduct could be interpreted as “hate speech” under the revised law. The fear is not theoretical. Legal experts have noted that the amendment opens the door to prosecution based on subjective claims of harm, including alleged violations of personal “feelings.”

Jewish advocacy groups in Canada have taken a different position. Major organizations, including the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and B’nai Brith Canada, publicly supported the bill, citing a surge in antisemitic incidents across the country. In a joint statement, they described Bill C-9 as “an important and necessary step to strengthen tools for law enforcement and prosecutors to protect targeted communities and hold criminals accountable.” At the same time, these groups emphasized that further action will be needed to combat rising antisemitism and anti-Israel activism.

The divide reflects two competing concerns: the urgent need to confront real threats against Jewish communities and the equally serious warning from Christian leaders that expanding hate speech laws without clear safeguards risks criminalizing religious expression itself.

With the Senate expected to review the bill shortly and approval widely anticipated, Canada is poised to enact legislation that will test the boundaries between protecting vulnerable communities and preserving the right to speak openly from sacred texts.