The raising of the Christian flag in front of Confederation building during Holy Week went against the government's own policy on the use of the courtesy flag pole outside the building, internal documents show.

A letter written by David Brown, director of protocol and corporate affairs, and sent to the premier's office before the flag raising, said in order for a flag to fly on the pole the event must be "non-commercial, non-religious and non-political in nature."

That letter was released April 21 through access to information.

Despite that policy, documents show the premier's chief of staff Kelvin Parsons instructed the flag be raised for Holy Week in response to a request by Tolson Chapman, a member of the St. Stephen the Martyr Church in St. John's.

Chapman said in his request that it would recognize the persecution of Christians, during the lead up to Easter.

The flag raising created a backlash from many who demanded it be taken down.

St. John's Centre MHA Gerry Rogers said at the time the flag "represents a very divisive approach to Christianity, that it's homophobic, that it's against choice for women."

In the House of Assembly Wednesday, Opposition Leader Paul Davis asked about the decision to raise the flag.

"The director of protocol wrote you and said it cannot be religious, but you said there was no policy and you went ahead and raised the flag," Davis said.

"Tell the people why you went against your own policy."

Premier says policy was just 'draft'

At the time, Ball defended how the flag had been raised, saying there was a "lack of clear policy."

Responding to Davis Wednesday, Ball said, "That is shameful what the former premier is talking about. It was clear, clear draft policy — he knows this."

Ball added, "It's now in the hands of the Speaker to put clear policy."

The flag was taken down after the March 22 bombings in Brussels and was never put back up.

The Christian flag was taken down after the March 22 bombings in Belgium, when other flags were lowered. (Twitter: John Riche)

The Christian flag was also raised outside the city halls of St. John's and Mount Pearl, but both took the flag down after complaints.

Under the previous PC government, Chapman's request to put up the flag had been rejected as a violation of policy. The documents show when he was opposition leader Ball told Chapman he'd be more open to flying the flag.

"Our society must be tolerant and respectful of all groups, regardless of their religious, racial, gender based or other origins," Ball wrote in March 2015.

"A Liberal Government would operate based on a policy of tolerance and strive to accommodate as many requests as reasonably possible to raise a flag at Confederation Building."