Quote:
Originally Posted by EdmTrekker
Some? This is a secular nation - a lot more than "some" represented by voices here.
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I think the idea you have of what "secular" means is a bit out of touch with what it actually means in this country.
It sure as hell doesn't mean "no resources to maintain heritage churches", that's pretty obvious. And thank goodness (or God, whichever you'd prefer) for that. You can be secular or non-religious and still believe in preserving important local landmarks like the McDougall Church, and I'd venture to guess that the vast majority of Edmontonians, Albertans and Canadians happen to agree with those of us who value heritage buildings, even if it means a little public support to keep them going. It's not a public endorsement of the United Church, it's a public endorsement of the building and its significance.
Not to get into things like constitutionally mandated separate school systems (including the Catholic system here in AB), covenant health, etc.
This isn't France, or even the US. Canada has never had a strict separation of church and state, we're far too pragmatic for that. And even in those places with a more strictly secular constitution, they often put public money into preserving religious sites with historical significance.