Volunteers of Faith

Much as it might pain those among the population who profess to no belief in the presence of a spiritual Father, it appears a reality that those who do believe, who value their faith in religion, will also go out of their way to do good deeds, to be charitable and helping and compassionate human beings. Amazing, that we cannot attain to this manner of kindly spiritual status without adhering to religious belief.

Religious groups, it would appear, make up 19% of Canada's 161,000 non-profit and voluntary organizations, according to a 2003 survey by Imagine Canada. The report demonstrates that religious organizations can count on over two million volunteers, and as a result are more likely than other groups "to have mid-sized and large volunteer complements". People respond to societal need, propelled by their belief in the Almighty.

That's powerful stuff. That faith motivates people to give of themselves, where without religious belief people are reliant on their own inbred inheritance of compassion. Does belief in religion then make us more susceptible to understanding and responding to the needs of others? Apparently so. It seems to kick-start our understanding of and willingness to help others in their deep travail.

Catholic charities in the United States are credited with providing food for 6.3 million people, along with a range of health and counselling services to 3.6 million. "People of faith have earned a place at the table by their devoted service... they walk the talk and therefore it would be very odd indeed if their values, which motivate them to do so much good, are marginalized."

Which leads to the incident that erupted into the news recently when Christian Horizons, a charity that operates 180 homes across the province of Ontario, with 2,500 employees serving 1,400 severely disabled residents, fired one of their staff for an unchristian lifestyle. Christian Horizons requires all its employees to sign a statement of moral values. The fired employee, although a devout Christian, became a lesbian.

The Ontario Human rights Tribunal informed Christian Horizons that they were not in compliance with human rights, for a group that received funding through public taxes. The homes that Christian Horizons operate provide an essential, humane and enormously helpful service to the community. Services that are not provided through any other venue.

The Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, Thomas Collins, claims that "Religious-based groups that are created and motivated by people of faith perform an enormous service for our whole community". And he is spot-on. Religious groups are involved in delivering social services from soup kitchens and homeless shelters, addiction programs, senior care and family services.

They deal with domestic violence, immigration, and employment counselling, as well as adoption services. Their mission to help those most vulnerable in society is unparalleled in scope by any kind of government service. They are unique in their purpose and they are devoted to helping those needing help in the most desperate way.

That being the case - and even if they do receive public funding - their own religious values should be respected. They should be free to hire whom they will, those who share their values and their morals, their respect for the tenets of their religion. What they believe in does not detract from the vital services they provide; indeed, they compel these people to devote themselves to service provision unavailable through other auspices.

It's quite simply wrong to impose a sterile, secular public standard on religious institutions. It's a trade-off for a hand-off. And good value, at that.