EFC response to committee recommendation to remove charitable status for advancing religion

CANADA – Approximately 40% of Canada’s registered charities advance religion. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), of which Lutheran Church–Canada is a member, expressed concern in light of the parliamentary recommendation to remove the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose and “no longer provide charitable status to anti-abortion organizations.”

“Canada has long recognized advancing religion as a charitable purpose,” the EFC shared. “Many churches and religious organizations have been granted charitable status on that basis. Our country has about 23,000 Christian congregations, many of which have charitable status. The impact of this change would also be far reaching and devastating to other religious charities, to those they serve and to Canadian society.”

The EFC reminds Canadians that these recommendations do not have to be adopted, encouraging strong advocacy as a preventative measure. The EFC has written to the finance minister and is calling Christians to contact their local MPs to oppose these recommendations.

Updates and related resources on this topic can be found on the EFC website here.

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