Abortion stance may keep faith-based groups from funds

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This article was published 20/01/2018 (2827 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Faith-based organizations in Brandon are at risk of losing out on Canada Summer Jobs funding this year after the federal government imposed a requirement that activities and projects considered to be anti-abortion will be ineligible for funds.

The government’s website now stipulates that applicants must “respect individual human rights in Canada,” which include “reproductive rights.”

This is in keeping with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s longstanding stance that anti-abortion groups wouldn’t be accepted, Virden resident Ed Penner said.

“The prime minister is always talking about tolerance,” he said, adding that the requirement is a “blatant discrimination against pro-life people.”

Penner and wife Ellen co-wrote a letter to Trudeau expressing their concerns, urging he reconsider.

Leadership at the Brandon-based Youth for Christ and Samaritan House Ministries are joining in this effort out of fear that they’re about to lose out on funding for summer students.

Youth for Christ typically hires two summer students to support initiatives that support homeless and at-risk youth in Brandon, executive director Dwayne Dyck said, adding that perhaps their most impactful impact comes through their taking over of a summer literacy program.

The summer months contribute toward an educational gap between low-income children and those in the middle or upper class, Dyck said, adding that while some families can afford to send their children to camp and engage in various other programs during the summer months, lower-income families cannot.

This is where Youth for Christ’s summer students come in to help fill this educational gap.

Samaritan House Ministries hires up to five summer students per year, which executive director Thea Dennis said helps fill gaps left by staff members who are going on vacation, as well as bolster their numbers to take on seasonal efforts such as the community garden program.

Losing federal funding for these employees would “definitely be a challenge for us moving forward,” she said, adding that while they intend on applying anyway, she’s not optimistic that they will find success.

Although they carry an anti-abortion stance, Dennis said that it’s not an opinion they impose upon anyone who doesn’t ask them about it.

“We’re not projecting ourselves on individuals or community members who are seeking services,” she said, adding that they help anyone who needs it, regardless of culture, religion or any other variable.

“There are actual crises happening, and people need support for that,” she said. “We’re called to love and serve and be respectful, and that’s what we do.”

Dyck describes Youth for Christ under similar parameters, in that although their official stance is anti-abortion, it’s not something they impose upon anyone.

“We’re not educating people in any particular manner,” he said, adding that even so, they’re not going to hold back from their belief that “life is sacred” in order to appease the federal government’s new directive.

Youth for Christ is there to help youth regardless of their background, he said, adding that staff members have even helped transport youths who have opted to get abortions to their appointments.

“If we don’t get the funds, these young people won’t receive the services, it’s really that simple,” Dyck said. “The Liberal government’s decision to tie public funds to an endorsement of their ideology will reduce the programs available to local youth.”

Like Dennis at Samaritan House Ministries, Dyck said that Youth For Christ would apply for funding despite the new stipulation, with a letter attached to their application that will clarify that they are not adhering to the required ideology.

Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire said that his office has received calls and letters from Westman organizations that are concerned about this policy shift.

“Canadians should be very concerned that the Government of Canada is basing funding decisions on whether or not you hold a certain belief,” he said, adding that he believes the government should reverse its decision.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB