Religion still important to majority of Canadians

Catholic New Times, July 3, 2005

Church attendance may be falling, but nearly two-thirds of all Canadians say religion still matters, according to a 10-country poll on religious beliefs.

Canada ranked fourth in the international survey, behind front-runner Mexico--where 86 per cent said religion was important in their lives--and the U.S. (84 per cent). They were the third most likely to support religious leaders' influence on government decisions, the Ottawa Citizen reported in June.

Although the majority still want a secular state, the backing of religious leaders in the political arena is much higher here than in Western Europe. In one instance, the right of gays and lesbians to marry has been vehemently opposed by prominent Roman Catholics, among other religious leaders across the country.

Reginald Bibby, the University of Lethbridge sociologist and author of several books on Canadians' attitude to religion, maintained organized religion is experiencing a "modest comeback" in this country, due to American religious resources and developments.

"Everyone thought we would go the route of a heavily secularized Europe. Looking back, we were pretty naive," Bibby said.

"The facts of the Canadian religious situation point to the ongoing importance of organized religion, where people value their ongoing identification."