A Message from Bishop Todd Townshend

September 19, 2023

God Loves and Welcomes All

On Wednesday, September 20th there will be protests across Canada against what the organisers claim is “LGBT indoctrination in Canadian schools.” In many locations, counter-protests are being planned by a broad coalition of educators, labour, religious leaders, and other citizens concerned about the importation of American culture-war issues into Canada.

We are aware that there are protests and counter-protests planned across the entire Diocese from Windsor to Owen Sound and we are concerned that the wider public has the opportunity to see that the organisers of the protest do not speak for all religions or for all Christians as they claim to do. The diocesan web site has a banner with the words “God Loves and Welcomes All” and a shifting array of photographs that display images of diversity, inclusion, and welcome across the Diocese of Huron. https://www.diohuron.org/news/god-loves-and-welcomes-all Please consider sharing the link widely on your social media.

Should we be contacted by the media for a statement, our message—on September 20th and always—will be a message of respect and inclusion that reflects our basic belief: that God is love and that all of us without exception are created in the image and likeness of God. And just as God loves us, so we are called to love our neighbour and, as Christians, to behave in a manner that reflects this love.

+Todd

Bishop of Huron