Faith Leaders Speak Out on Alberta’s Referendum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 5, 2026

As Alberta’s referendum draws near, Faith Leaders from the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, and Jewish communities have released letters calling on our communities to reflect carefully on our values before voting, especially the values of welcoming the stranger, caring for those most vulnerable, and the common good.

CALGARY, AB - The Roman Catholic Bishops of Alberta, the Anglican Bishops of Alberta, the Lutheran Bishop of Alberta and the Territories, the President of the Board of Elders of the Canadian District of the Moravian Church in America, and Rabbi Mark Glicman of Temple B’nai Tikvah have all released letters calling on their communities to reflect on the values of their faiths before voting.

Copies of these letters can be found on the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good Website on our referendum campaign page or at this Link: Faith Leaders Letters

“Scripture speaks often about our unity. We are the family of God. Even with all of our differences, we are one body. Jesus consistently sought to bring people together rather than divide them, welcoming even foreigners into the community of faith and extending the gospel beyond the boundaries people had established,” writes Bishop Trish Schmermund of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s Synod of Alberta and the Territories. “What would it mean to reduce immigration? What would it mean for people who live among us to have limited or no access to healthcare, education, or other essential services? Who would benefit from these changes? Who might bear the greatest burden? And how do our answers reflect the Christian values we proclaim?”

“A person’s worth does not depend on citizenship, income, ability, or contribution to society. We ask you to consider particularly how the proposals may affect children, people living in poverty, the sick and those who are isolated.” Write Roman Catholic Bishops: Most Reverend Stephen A. Hero, Archbishop of Edmonton, Most Reverend David Motiuk, Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton, Most Reverend Gary Franken, Bishop of St. Paul, Most Reverend William McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary, Most Reverend Charles Duval, CSsR, Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan. Further, they ask their members to reflect:

“How will this decision affect others, particularly those who are most vulnerable?

Have I considered the good of others alongside my own interests?

To what extent might fear, anger, or resentment be influencing my judgement?

What kind of society or community are we building for future generations through this choice?“

“This is a unique moment in the life of our province in which we are being asked a series of questions that each in different ways come down to choosing what kind of society we want to be.” Write Anglican Bishops: The Most Rev. Greg Kerr-Wilson, Bishop of Calgary, The Rt. Rev. David Greenwood, Bishop of Athabasca, and the Rt. Rev. Stephen London, Bishop of Edmonton.

Their letter continues, “In the New Testament, one of the central stories of Jesus is his Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), which invites us to consider the implications of the question: 'Who is my neighbour?' In this biblical account, Jesus is clear that our neighbour is not just those whom we think truly belong; rather, we have a responsibility to support and protect the lives, dignity, and worth of everyone we meet, regardless of their identity or status in our eyes.

Rabbi Mark Glickman of Temple B’nai Tikvah writes:

“Jewish scripture, the Torah, is obsessed with its concern over how we treat foreigners. “You shall not wrong a foreigner or oppress him,” the Torah teaches, “for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” “The foreigner who resides with you shall be treated as one of your citizens,” it says elsewhere. “You shall love him as yourself.” In fact, the Torah implores us no fewer than thirty-six times to care for the foreigner and welcome them into our community. Caring for those who come from other places is one of the most sacred of all Jewish responsibilities.

That’s one of the reasons that, as both a proud Jew and as a proud Albertan, I am deeply concerned about our upcoming provincial referendum. Implied in its language is a suggestion that we should close our doors to immigrants rather than welcome them as warmly as we can. It suggests that we limit our support for immigrants rather than help integrate them into our communities. It suggests that we reduce their health coverage and social supports, which would mean unequal treatment for some members of our community.”

Faith leaders are also reflecting on the impact this referendum will have on their own communities:

“The Moravian Church in Canada relies on the ability to call pastors from the U.S. and other countries to serve our congregations. If the four immigration-focused questions in the referendum pass, it could make it difficult, if not impossible, for us to call pastors from other countries.

Should Alberta move forward with the proposals in the referendum, Moravian pastors and their families immigrating to serve in Canada would have no access to health care services; their children would be prevented from enrolling in school; and pastors immigrating to Canada could be charged additional health and education premiums that would place an undue financial burden on them and our district. Not only do these four referendum questions challenge our ability to minister to our Canadian Moravians, but they are also contrary to our core values.” Writes David Jones, President, The Board of Elders of the Canadian District of the Moravian Church in America.

“Faith leaders rarely speak out at the highest levels in public on what can be seen as political issues. It is a strong wake-up call to all of us that they are choosing to speak out now. It is a reminder of what is at stake, and it is a reminder that these referendum questions threaten fundamental values that have guided our communities for centuries.” Rev. Ryan Andersen, Lead Organizer of the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good.

ABOUT THE CALGARY ALLIANCE FOR THE COMMON GOOD

The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good is a non-partisan coalition of 32 community-based organizations representing more than 100,000 Calgarians, working together to shape a just, equitable, and compassionate city. The Anglican Diocese of Calgary, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Alberta and the Territories, Good Shepherd Moravian, and Temple B’nai Tikvah are members of the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good.