Re Restore Kairos’s Funding, January
With respect, Mr. Harris, your conclusion spoils an otherwise excellent article.
The Kairos situation raises, for all Christians, issues that are far more important than seven million dollars. Two areas need to be addressed before worrying about government funding.
First, let’s get the facts. The Federal Government and Minister Baird, in particular, should be asked to provide their evidence that the actions of Kairos are anti-semetic or at odds with federal guidelines. This allegation, unchallenged, affects the reputation and credibility of not only Kairos, but all the sponsoring Christian groups including the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
The recent arrest of eleven missionaries in Haiti illustrates that abuses resulting from “missionary zeal” are not confined to history and we should be absolutely sure that those groups who receive our financial support are complying with our core values.
On the other hand, both sides in the Middle East conflict share blame. To criticize terrorism or the use of phosphorous bombs and disproportionate responses to acts of terrorism is neither anti-Islamic not anti-Semitism. It is called integrity.
Secondly, the Kairos decision should prompt Christians to question why politicians feel so safe in scoring their “politically correct” points at the expense of the Christian religion. From “holiday trees,” to attempts to remove the Lord’s Prayer from Queen’s Park, to the current movement to obliterate any reference to the Christian heritage of our educational institutions; there appears to be a longstanding, yet continuous movement against this religion.
These decisions have nothing to do with cultural or religious sensitivity. This is strictly secular. Instead, this is how bureaucrats and politicians manipulate and use multiculturalism as a political strategy to gain votes. Unfortunately, it is conducted without fear of backlash; because Christians don’t backlash.
Leadership always comes from the top, not the bottom. An online petition from grass-roots Presbyterians will likely receive a signed picture from Minister Baird thanking us for our continued support. On the other hand, a press conference, held by a coalition of Christian Churches demanding an explanation of Ministers Oda and Baird’s comments with get the attention of not only Canada’s Christians but likely the Prime Minister as well.
Instead of settling for seven million dollars, I would rather see the Presbyterian Church organize the other supporting groups of Kairos to address this situation. Make this a public issue and if necessary, an election issue. Only then will it stop. Today it was Kairos; tomorrow it will be something else.
