Ottawa Citizen: Religion in the public square

Margaret Somerville, director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill: Freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion—we should hear all voices on issues that shape society's values… "If you've paid any attention to the media over the last week -- for instance, regarding whether the G8 "maternal and infant health initiative" should include abortion, or The Current's and The National's programs on CBC that focused on Marci McDonald's new book, The Armageddon Factor, that raises alarm about the rise in political power and influence of the "Canadian religious right" -- you'll find this secularist truism espoused both front, centre and behind the scenes: Religion and religious voices and views have no valid role to play in the public square. Indeed, many secularists are openly hostile to any such participation. But are they correct?"