Catholic Insight : Political : Ontario Premier plays politics with prayer issue

Sunday July 20, 2008

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Political
Political

Ontario Premier plays politics with prayer issue
By Editor and Staff
Issue: April 2008

Toronto—Dalton McGuinty, the Catholic, pro-abortion Premier of Ontario, has many problems with which he ought to be dealing as leader of Canada’s most populous province. However, recently he found time for an issue that fits into the “it ain’t broke, so why fix it?” category. As part of a package of legislature reforms, McGuinty proposes striking an all-party committee to consider alternatives to the Lord’s Prayer, which is recited at the beginning of the day at Queen’s Park legislature in Toronto. According to him, it’s time to “move beyond” the Christian prayer and use some other formulation that reflects the diversity of the population of modern Ontario.

Conservative leader John Tory opposes the removal of the Our Father, but is not against the addition of prayers of other faith communities. Conservative Evangelical MPP Frank Klees (Newmarket-Aurora), on the other hand, has spoken out pointedly on the issue. Klees acknowledges the multi-faith aspect of modern Ontario, but is against the exclusion of “such an important part of Ontario’s spiritual and parliamentary past and present heritage.” Klees’ position is supported by the Catholic Civil Rights League and many Ontarians. No minority religious group had asked that a change be made. NDP House Leader Peter Kormos has warned McGuinty that his initiative could open the door to agnostics who may want to eliminate prayer entirely.
Ontario and PEI. are presently the only legislative bodies in Canada to retain recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. The federal government in Ottawa uses a “non-denominational” prayer in both houses. McGuinty’s proposal was supported by the Toronto Star (Feb. 14), which is usually in favour of removing things Christian.

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