In Origins, the one mage woman in the chantry room who prays to the maker to take her magic away. Do not tell me the circles are not abusive.
Not allowed relationships, to visit family or to be visited by them, children taken away….The bard is anti-circle and anti-templar/chantry because of how they are used to abuse others. This does not mean he is against the person who is a templar if he sees they are a good person.
He can see the good in people, but the overall organisation he does not like.