MONTREAL -- Pauline Marois has defended a Parti Quebecois candidate who compared baptism and circumcision to rape.

Louise Mailloux, who is running for the PQ in the Montreal riding of Gouin, has also written in the past that a tax on kosher and halal foods helps to fund religious wars.

Mailloux, who is a philosophy professor, made the rape comparison in an essay on religious neutrality. It appeared in the book, Laïcité ça s'impose!, that was published in 2011.

Mailloux made clear this week that she stands by the statement.

Marois told journalists that Mailloux "is an eloquent writer...I respect her point of view."

"She is a supporter of our charter on religious neutrality and we appreciate her support."

Harvey Levine, the executive director of the Quebec region for B'nai Brith, told QMI Agency that "We find it unfortunate that Pauline Marois, the leader of the Parti Quebecois considers this candidate's writings to be eloquent, and not anti Semitic or racist as indicated in (Mailloux's) writings."

B'nai Brith is the oldest Jewish service organization in the world, and is known as the global voice of the Jewish community.

"As an organization, we're apolitical. We don't openly support one candidate over another," Levine said.

"From the point of view of B'nai Brith we feel that candidates that continuously choose to spread divisive and hateful views should not be given a platform, and party leaders must speak out and ensure that their candidates on their slates do not harbour anti-Semitic or racist attitudes."

Marois told reporters that the Parti Quebecois is not an anti-Semitic party.