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July 27, 2005
Canada: Alberta League of Militant Atheists
Human Rights Commission Strikes Again
“When a society issues arbitrary laws that reject the primacy of natural law, the result is not only the risk of social chaos and disorder but, as the 20th century witnessed, a potential basis for state totalitarianism.” - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, May 18, 2005
(This graphic was stolen from the excellent Cannuckistan Chronicles – Please visit it for more on Canada’s descent into the abyss of unrestrained political correctness.)
Canada’s Catholic Bishops rightly worried that passage of C-38, the now-enacted gay marriage bill, would not only create a situation in which “marriage as the most basic of all social institutions becomes meaningless”, but would also provide Canada’s thought police with yet another excuse to persecute proponents of traditional Christian beliefs regarding the family and society.
Once again, our friends in Canada have proven the Bishops right. In January,2005, Calgary Bishop Fred Henry issued a pastoral letter urging that gay marriage be opposed in Alberta (where a provincial-level Defense of Marriage law had been passed). In it he argued:
Since homosexuality, adultery, prostitution and pornography undermine the foundations of the family, the basis of society, then the State must use its coercive power to proscribe or curtail them in the interest of the common good."
According to Rick Bell, writing in the Calgary Sun:
Two individuals see the letter and are alarmed, disturbed, think it's dangerous and likely to expose gays to hatred. They complain to the province's Human Rights and Citizenship Commission, established to fight discrimination in jobs, housing and services, but now an avenue for the easily offended.
According to CTV, the offended parties filed the complaints in March, 2005:
In her complaint, Carol Johnson of Calgary said she was alarmed by Henry's remarks. "I believe the publication of Bishop Henry's letter is likely to expose homosexuals to hatred or contempt," wrote Johnson.
"These remarks are particularly dangerous when made by a person in a position of trust and authority."
A second complaint from Norman Greenfield was received by both Henry and the commission on Tuesday.
Stephen Lock, regional director of Egale Canada, a gay rights lobby group, said he doesn't dispute that Henry has an obligation to represent the views of his church, including on same-sex marriage. But Lock said lumping homosexuality in with things like pornography and prostitution is going too far.
"When anyone starts calling for the coercive power of the State to suppress or curtail any legal activity, that's really oppressive to be saying stuff like that," Lock said.
Here in the United States (outside of certain universities, at least) this would still be laughable – but not so in Canada. There discrimination is defined so broadly that making someone feel bad can be an actionable offense, leading to 5-figure fines or more. Mr. William Whatcott, learned this lesson the hard way earlier this year when he was fined $17,000 (Canadian) for upsetting several gay Saskatchewanians when he distributed fliers expressing his negative view of homosexuality – including $2,500 to one complainant for “loss of his dignity and self-respect and hurt feelings”. So did British Columbia educator Christopher Kempling, when he found himself suspended from his job as a high school guidance counselor for writing letters to his local newspaper critical of gay activists.
In Alberta, the forces of coercive political correctness have been similarly aggressive. Mr. Whatcott is currently under investigation there for distributing his fliers. Now the Bishop is being called in to meet with the individuals who filed the complaint and a “conciliator” from the Human Rights Commission.
According to Bishop Henry:
We're trying to set up a conciliation session for late August or early September. I'm not concerned at all. Dialogue and discussion, talking things through, is a good thing. I'll give it a shot. But, in the end, we will still have to agree to disagree and let the chips fall where they may….I'll clarify and I'll discuss until the cows come home. But I will not alter the substance of the argument. There will be no change. I will not compromise on truth.
Things may not turn out to be that simple for Bishop Henry.
Marie Riddle, the Director of the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission told LifeSiteNews.com… that complaints are usually handled by conciliation or mediation by commission staff. If unsuccessful, the commission proceeds to an investigation. If the commission does not believe there is a contravention of the Human Rights code the complaint is dismissed. If mediation has not been successful and the commission believes there has been a contravention the matter is sent before a panel for adjudication.
(Being “sent before a panel for adjudication” may sound harmless enough, but it’s what cost Mr. Whatcott $17,500.)
Posted by John at July 27, 2005 08:47 PM
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Comments
I enjoyed reading your response to my article Lack Of Freedom In Teaching, and I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I have commented a little and I hope that you find interest in my read, "Rebuttal To Comment In Lack Of Freedom In Teaching".
Posted by: Sam at August 7, 2005 05:38 PM