Ford’s Problematic Self–Identification

Brian Walsh, God Bless Toronto: The Piety of Rob Ford

This is a response from one of my professors, Brian Walsh, to the Mayor of Toronto’s speech this week, in which he issued an apology for his past use of illicit drugs to the people of Toronto. As most of you know, Rob Ford’s conduct over the past two years has not gone unnoticed by the world-wide press – an unfortunate reality for those of use who call ourselves Christians and for those of other religious faiths in light of Ford’s recent sign-off: “God bless the people of Toronto.”

Don’t get me wrong; it is indeed my prayer (and that of others) that God blesses our city, but Ford’s self-identification with the cause of God is a problematic one for reasons that Brian’s reflection expresses.