According to the CBCNews, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has named Dr. Andrew Bennett, a Catholic professor of history of Christianity and Dean at Ottawa’s Augustine College, as ambassador of the newly established Office of Religious Freedom.

Prime Minister Harper said the creation of the office comes on the heels of increasing persecution against people on the basis of faith.

“Around the world, violations of religious freedom are widespread and they are increasing,” said Harper in a speech. “Dr. Bennett is a man of principle and deep convictions and he will encourage the protection of religious minorities around the world so all can practice the faith without fear of violence and repression.”

Bennett, a Catholic, is dean of Augustine College, a Christian liberal arts college in Ottawa. The college’s website says, “Augustine College accepts the model of education that reigned for millennia, until the modern age began to dismantle that tradition.”

Bennett has a PhD in politics from the University of Edinburgh and a master of arts in history from McGill University in Montreal.

Harper added that the office’s intention is not to promote one religiou sexpression above another, but “to promote religious diversity and religious tolerance around the world."

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