Is freedom of conscience greater than freedom of religion?

Ontario, Canada


The following excerpt is from Affleck v. The Attorney General of Ontario, 2021 ONSC 1108 (CanLII):

In Roach v. Canada (Minister of State for Multiculturalism and Citizenship) (1994), 1994 CanLII 3453 (FCA), 113 D.L.R. (4th) 67, at p. 82, Linden, J.A. distinguished between freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, while still emphasizing the seriousness of matters of conscience that would receive protection: It seems, therefore, that freedom of conscience is broader than freedom of religion. The latter relates more to religious views derived from established religious institutions, whereas the former is aimed at protecting views based on strongly held moral ideas of right and wrong, not necessarily founded on any organized religious principles. These are serious matters of conscience.

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