ANGLICAN JOURNAL Since 1875 anglicanjournal.com @anglicanjournal vol. 146 no. 9 november 2020 Faith leaders decry Quebec’s church-specific attendance limits Matt Gardner STAFF WRITER “Inconsistent.” “Illogical.” “Incomprehensible.” These are some of the words Bruce Myers, bishop of the diocese of Quebec, used to describe new COVID-19 restrictions by the Quebec government Pandemic puts limiting attendance in public places, which religious leaders across the province say unfairly target places of worship. vulnerable food workers On Sept. 21, Myers joined other faith leaders in denouncing the government’s decision to limit attendance in places of in focus worship to 25 to 50 people, at the same time as cinemas, theatres and concert halls can still host up to 250 people. He Tali Folkins for us, for the food security of the Canadian 5Migrant farmworkers, pictured endorsed an interfaith statement criticizing STAFF WRITER population—they themselves are very here before the pandemic, receive the government for “once again putting The people who come from other countries vulnerable in this pandemic.” bikes donated through the diocese places of worship in the same category as to work on Canada’s farms have never had The migrant workers that Illas ministers of Niagara’s Migrant Farmworkers bars,” a connection religious leaders call it particularly easy—but the pandemic to are not unique in this respect. Since Project. “unjustified and false.” has added a sharp edge to the stressful COVID-19 began to spread through PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED Bishop Christian Rodembourg, president of the Quebec Assembly of conditions under which they work, says the Canadian workplaces, the threats of death, known outbreak in any facility in North Catholic Bishops, signed the statement Rev. Antonio Illas, the diocese of Niagara’s illness and income insecurity have loomed America. Nearly half of its 2,200 employees in the name of the Quebec Interreligious missioner to migrant farmworkers. larger over many on the front lines of contracted the disease, two of whom died. A Roundtable (QIR). Formed in response In addition to hard work and the Canada’s food sector—and the conditions relative of a plant worker, visiting from the to the COVID-19 pandemic, the QIR vulnerability that comes with working under which they work have drawn Philippines, also died of the illness. includes the Anglican dioceses of Quebec in a foreign country, they also face with increased attention. A May CBC story reported that some and Montreal and other Christian COVID-19 a risk to their lives and health, Among the workplaces that have employees (unnamed in the article, on denominations, as well as Muslim and attracted national news coverage is the and to the income they need to provide for the grounds that they feared reprisal for Jewish groups. Cargill meat-processing plant in High River, themselves and their families back home. speaking publicly) were alleging unsafe The statement calls on the government Alta.—a massive facility that accounts for “If they test positive and are isolated, practices, including having to work at to reclassify places of worship in the same they are very stressed out. It’s very scary, more than a third of Canada’s entire meat- close quarters with one another during category as concert halls and theatres. It because they won’t generate income,” Illas packing capacity. The plant was shut down the outbreak. According to the story, also asks that a “frank and open channel of says. “It’s very ironic that the people who for two weeks in April after an outbreak most of the workers at the plant are either communications be established” between work in the field—the people who harvest of COVID-19, reported to be the largest See MIGRANT WORKERS, p. 6 faith leaders and government authorities. While faith communities expected new measures in response to an uptick in CoGS mulls possible changes to General Synod infections, Myers expressed bafflement at how the restrictions are being applied. membership, Order of Bishops He offered the example of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Quebec City, which Joelle Kidd Resolution C005, passed at General in addition to hosting Christian worship is often used as a concert venue. STAFF WRITER Synod in 2019, tasks CoGS with reviewing “the composition of the membership “Under the guidelines that have just Changes to the composition of General been ratified by the government, we could and the rules of order and procedure Synod—including reducing the number of have a concert in the Cathedral of the Holy of General Synod” and recommending voting bishops—may be in the works after Trinity with 250 people,” Myers said. “But discussions on church governance by the changes at the 2022 General Synod. we’d be forbidden from having a Christian Council of General Synod (CoGS) Sept. 12. Jones’ presentation drew on a survey liturgy with more than 25 people—even The discussions, led by General Synod’s of CoGS members from its July meeting, though it’s the exact same building and chancellor, Canon (lay) David Jones, will which had focused on the proportional both groups of people will be subject to SCREENSHOT: JOELLE KIDD be used by the working group to inform method used for determining the number the same precautions around physical General Synod’s chancellor, Canon proposals brought forward at the March of elected clerical and lay members a distancing, wearing a face covering and (lay) David Jones 2021 meeting of CoGS. See REPRESENTATION, p. 8 See WORSHIP RESTRICTION, p. 8 PM# 40069670 Sask. bishops join interfaith On the suffering—and 2 call for suicide prevention 4 suffocation—of neighbours 2 anglican journal • november 2020 SUICIDE PREVENTION4 ‘It affects everybody’ Sask. bishops sign “Our youth are kind of lost because of the residential school impacts, and the interfaith statement on drugs, the gangs, domestic violence [with] young couples and of course the war with suicide prevention meth coming into our communities,” Halkett said. “It’s a real tough battle for all.” Matt Gardner The diocese of Saskatchewan has worked STAFF WRITER to prevent suicide in numerous ways. Four Anglican bishops have joined St. Alban’s Cathedral hosted its second religious leaders across Saskatchewan in annual vigil on Sept. 10. The diocese has signing an interfaith statement that calls co-sponsored programs to support applied for greater efforts to prevent suicide. suicide intervention skills training, and it Bishops Michael Hawkins, Adam has held prayer walks. Halkett, Chris Harper and Rob “One of the things that frustrates me Hardwick—representing the diocese of is that occasionally politicians will show Saskatchewan, area mission of Missinipi and express that they’re concerned about and dioceses of Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle, 5 Bishop Adam The faith leaders released the statement this issue, but that is not the level of alarm respectively—all endorsed the statement. Halkett describes on Sept. 10, World Suicide Prevention that the rate of suicide in Canada’s north Representatives of other denominations the confluence of Day. The statement notes that 10 people on deserves or needs,” Hawkins said. and faiths included Roman Catholics, intergenerational average die of suicide each day in Canada, On Sept. 14, Hawkins, Halkett and Ukrainian Catholics, Presbyterians, trauma, drugs with approximately 144 suicides per year other faith leaders took part in a meeting Unitarians, members of the United Church and violence as in Saskatchewan alone. with Deputy Premier Gordan Wyant of Canada, Jews, Muslims and Bahá’ís. “a real tough Suicide is the leading cause of death in and Minister Responsible for Rural and The statement calls on “faith battle for all,” northern Saskatchewan for people between Remote Health Warren Kaeding on suicide communities, the Government of especially youth. the ages of 10 and 49. Higher rates of prevention. Hawkins called the coversation suicide are prevalent among First Nations, Saskatchewan and all sectors of society to photo: marian weyo frank and, at times, difficult. work together to establish a comprehensive Métis and Inuit, especially youth. Roman Catholic Archbishop Donald and effective suicide prevention strategy.” “It affects everybody,” Halkett said of Bolen, who also signed the statement, said Possible measures include the creation of suicide in northern communities. The communities must “prayerfully discern laws and programs that address common Missinipi bishop linked higher suicide how we can accompany young people risk factors for suicide; education on risk; rates among Indigenous people and other and bring the joy of the Gospel to them, and building capacity to address the needs of social ills with continuing intergenerational to do what we can to sow seeds of hope, youth, young adults and Indigenous people. trauma caused by residential schools. meaning and purpose.” g This Christmas, give the gift of Climate Action New monthly Together, we are making a world of difference. Foundation podcast series on PWRDF partners are on the front lines of climate change. They Forward e ideas that inspir generosity know first-hand the impacts of global warming and extreme Now available weather events on their health and food security. In working to preserve water, restore the soil and grow food efficiently and anglicanfoundation.org/podcasts responsibly, vulnerable communities are becoming more resilient. You can support these programs through the World of Gifts. See your copy in this issue of the Anglican Journal or visit pwrdf.org/worldofgifts