Former students at a private Christian academy in Saskatoon encouraged school and church officials to engage in political campaigns to increase their power and advance a conservative social agenda. He says he was under pressure.
Politicians are said to include a former member of Congress, Saskatoon's longest-serving mayor, and a sitting Saskatoon City Council member.
Despite the school and adjacent churches being registered as charitable organizations, students said various partisan political activities took place during school hours and worship services. .
"People told us we had to. It was the right thing to do...it was your duty," said former student Chris Kotelmach. "It turns out we were coerced."
These political allegations were directed at the Christian Center Academy (CCA), now called Legacy Christian Academy, and at Mile to Church, now called Mile to Church. It follows last week's CBC News investigation into practices at the Saskatoon Christian Center. More than 30 students bring up stories of violent discipline, traumatic rituals, and solitary confinement.
One longtime critic said the political activism was symptomatic of leaders' quest to impose socially conservative views on others by whatever means necessary.
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``This is not Christian. This is evil. Professor Ailsa Watkinson said. A lawsuit challenging the use of corporal punishment against children.
"I don't think it should be surprising after hearing about physical and mental abuse. This is exactly what students say this is a cult." Watkinson Said .
Kotelmach, who was named the school's top student for his academics and "spiritual excellence", stood on the streets of Saskatoon, winning over Don Acheson. He said he remembered waving a sign that helped to make the first of four mayoral elections in 2003.
The students said that he, who is not a member of the church, would sit in the front row whenever Atchison attended services. The pastor told everyone they should vote for him.
"[Atchison] was someone the pastor felt would help us further the Christian agenda," said former student Christina Hutchinson.
Kotelmach said the student also needed to buy clothes from Atchison's luxury retailers. He and his brother had to buy two pairs of trousers from there each year. Kotelmach provided CBC News with his $316.12 receipt from the one-year purchase.
CBC News did not respond to a request for comment from his Atchison.
His Sean, Kotelmach's brother, said teachers and church staff were always telling children that conservatives were good and that "everything liberal is bad."
The Kotelmachs argue that access to political power at all levels is central to church and school leaders, even if civil politicians are not in control of abortion policy and other social issues.
In retrospect, the family says Sean was frequently paddled and chastised, in part because he refused to participate in political campaigns. Chris, on the other hand, has been a tireless political volunteer, receiving awards and other accolades.
"We all thought the world would end if we didn't," Chris said.
'Inappropriate': Saskatoon City Councilman
From 1992 to 2004 she joined the CCA Caitlin Erickson also said that Maurice At least she recalls being involved in two federal campaigns. Saskatoon - On horseback at Wanuskewin.
Erickson remembers dropping out of school with her classmates in 1997 when she was 11 and dropping a Reform Party flyer in her mailbox.
Two years later, when she was 13, she said half of her class took turns heading to Bellakot's election office and stuffing envelopes with pamphlets for the Canadian Alliance.
Other students replaced the lyrics ofFeliz Navidad with "Mau-rice Vella-a-cott" and forced her to sing the campaign song. I remember that
As Ericsson grew older, the leaflet drop-offs and envelope stuffers became involved in protests, such as the process leading up to Saskatchewan's legal system recognizing same-sex marriage in 2004. I was.
"It still crushes me," Erickson said, noting that he now considers himself an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.
"It is heartbreaking to know that I was put in such a position as a minor."
In an interview with CBC News, Bellacotto confirmed that many Saskatoon students, including CCA students, supported his various campaigns. However, he said there was no indication they were coerced.
"It was early learning," Bellacotto said. ``It was a good education for them, too.''
Vellacott said that in order for CCA students to support his campaign, he encouraged people to discuss his political speeches and made political decisions. I remember supporting them by “bulma shaving,” which involves holding up signs and waving to traffic on the side of the road.
"It was very lively and exhilarating for me because there were so many young people involved," he said.
Bellacott said he did not remember any students being pulled out of class to be helped. Had it happened, he said, "I wouldn't have been the one to start it." I admit
Randy Donauer is a current member of the Saskatoon City Council and a longtime member of Mile Two Church. He acknowledged being endorsed by a pastor in his 2010 candidacy for Saskatoon City Council, but did not use church resources for the campaign. However, Donauer has admitted to helping organize campaigns for other politicians.
“Yes, students were recruited to deliver campaign materials, even during school hours. I have made a statement," he said in an email to CBC News.
"It was inappropriate... The Church should not take a partisan political stance. That is not the purpose of the Church."
It said it had stopped "several years ago" and has received no such kind of support for its unsuccessful Conservative candidacy for a federal seat in 2015 and its subsequent victory in city council.
He said that the situation had improved and that the church had become a welcoming place for all people of all political views.
Charity Dancing His Line
Johnson Shoyama School of Public Policy Director and Associate Professor Jim Ferney says there are "no black and white regulations" in Saskatchewan's private school law about political involvement.
However, Farney points to federal income tax law. This prohibits charitable organizations (such as many private schools) from using the resources (including office supplies) of political parties or candidates to directly or indirectly endorse or oppose them. and volunteers). Doing so may lead to audits, according to Canada Revenue Agency guidance documents, updated in January 2019 and superseding previous legislation that came into force in September 2003. .
"There is a big difference between doing a civic [task] and doing a model parliament or all of that. This is obviously educational. That's a really important difference. is," he explained.
"We can talk about whether it crosses the line of charity, I think it does, but it certainly crosses the line of the school spirit.
Current leaders of Legacy Christian Academy and Mile Two Church declined repeated requests for interviews.