I think it's very true to say that institutions are not bricks and mortar. You don't look around and say this is.... Institutions are made of people. Institutions are like the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Grey Nuns, all of the various groups who have brought loving health care to this place. They're not things; they're communities of people. They have values, and that's why people come to them. That's why they seek them out.
They know when they go, for example, to a hospital—and I can think of St. Michael's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, Providence centre which has a wonderful palliative care place.... They know they can trust when they come to the sisters or to the church. It's true, as well, for Jewish and Protestant institutions, similar institutions, of which there are many. In my own diocese, there are very many. They can trust that we have certain values that we hold to. Those values are important for our whole society. Political parties have values; other institutions have values. They're not objective things. They're not material things. That's a great value for our whole community.
These institutions are funded by the government because they do immensely good work. They provide a variety, diversity, choice, I might say, to people, and that's very, very important.
I would say that institutions provide the spirit. I think of the one next to where I live, the Urban Angels, St. Michael's. It's a sign of hope for people. If you undermine the institution for what it is, our society will be very much harmed. Our whole community would be a lot harsher, colder, crueller, without the witness given by communities of faith who are on the ground, on the street, day by day, caring for the most needy. I don't think they should be undermined or attacked.