‘Unjust order’

Dear Editor:

I am writing to voice strong concern about the issuing of the Section 22 class order over old order Mennonites in Waterloo region.

This order systematically persecutes a group of people who define their entire lives in terms of church and relationships. Mennonites have historically faced persecutions which led them to withdraw from society in order to survive, a strategy that became central in Mennonite theology.

Thus Mennonites have remained tightly bound to their communities. To forbid them to meet under threat of steep fines is persecution. Strikingly, Marc Miller (Minister of Indigenous Services) stated the following about indigenous communities: “Even in the face of a historic pandemic, Canada must not and will not prohibit these important practices.”

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has said provincial public-health orders do not supersede First Nations laws and treaties.

Miller said that First Nations leadership will ultimately decide whether to go ahead with ceremonies and how to do it. There were 185 positive cases in First Nations communities at the time of this statement.

By issuing a Section 22 class order on Mennonites, the governing bodies are hypocritical, are losing public trust, and are breaking faith with the Canadian public.

Be the voice in the community to speak up on behalf of Old Order Mennonites and help stop their persecution by working toward lifting this unjust order.

Ruth Gaskovski, Waterloo