“In our tolerant society, too many are saying that Christians are getting what’s coming to them,” he said.  “This is a new form of blood libel. It must be repudiated at every opportunity. There are more Christians persecuted around the world than any other group by orders of magnitude.”

Kenny also said Jews continue to be persecuted, as are Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists and others. “We stand together for all of these people,” he said.

The event was hosted by Rabbi Reuven Bulka at his Congregation Machzikei Hadas. He said there is a “crescendo of attacks on the Christian community the world over.”

The Jewish community knows the perils and unfortunate results of silence, of looking the other way, of not getting involved, Bulka said. “We decry that. We condemn it.”

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the government is aware of the disturbing trend to target Christians for their faith. He said the promised Office of Religious Freedom will promote religious freedom and human rights around the world.

“Canada will no longer go along to get along,” Baird said.

“We stand for what is principled and just regardless of whether it is popular.”

It’s of tremendous importance when people of different faiths gather, he said, to stand up for others who are not free.

Kenney said the Office of Religious Freedom should transcend all faith lines. We need Muslims, Jews, Christians and people with no religious faith to support the project, he said. “We together stand to say enough is enough.”

Over 200 million Christians are denied their fundament rights to practice their faith.

Baird objected to a trend that sees religious freedom being redefined to discourage the right to practice faith in public.

“Freedom of belief is not enough,” he said. “People have to have the freedom to practice their beliefs.”

There are some who would say you can put your Bible on your bedside table, but don’t take it out, he said.

That’s wrong, and Canada will be defending true freedom of religion around the world.