Posted on 04/08/2005 3:47:06 AM PDT by ovrtaxt
The Assault on Clergy Has Begun: Supreme Court Tells PM - Parliament can not protect clergy
April 5th, 2005
Dear Pastor:
Religious freedom in Canada is seriously compromised and the assault on Clergy has begun. Today Bishop Fred Henry of Alberta is in the process of being prosecuted for expressing biblical teachings to his flock. If the government will be so bold as to prosecute a Catholic Bishop, it may certainly place you or myself on trial. We must act now to protect religious freedom and preserve the definition of marriage.
In January, Bishop Fred Henry wrote a letter to his parishioners
stating, "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 . . . curtail them in the interests of the common good." Two individuals filed complaints and now the Alberta Human Rights Commission is investigating the Bishop. The Bishop believes this is an attempt to "shut the churches out of this important debate on redefining marriage."
This threat of prosecution is taking place before the Government redefines marriage and makes Bill C-38 law. All law schools teach the biblical principle that "the law is a teacher." If Bill C-38 becomes law it will teach our society to further disallow biblical teaching on morality. In addition, the new law will produce a generation of children inundated with teachings on same-sex relations. A plethora of same-sex marriage text books such as "Mom and Mum are getting Married" are already printed and being taught. It only goes to reason that prosecutions will increase exponentially if Bill C-38 is passed.
The proposed law places Clergy and people of faith at great risk and offers no real protection. Bill C-38 puts forward a guise of protection for Clergy; however, the Supreme Court has already ruled that the Federal Parliament cannot implement any protection. On December 9th, 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada advised Prime Minister Martin that protecting Clergy from being forced to marry same-sex couples is "ultra vires parliament," beyond parliament's jurisdiction. The Prime Minister knows that the proposed protection is not worth the paper it is written on.
In addition, the proposed legislation provides no protection for
religious facilities, church workers, congregation members, or any other Canadians from being forced to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies. Several examples, such as the Knights of Columbus in B.C.; Printer Scot Brockie in Toronto; Marriage Commissioners in B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland, and several others, prove the lack of religious freedom for your congregation members. It is very possible that your church facility, workers, or even yourself will be
forced, in the near future, to participate in activities that violate your conscience.
It is our obligation to take a stand against this assault on religious freedom. Some believe it is hopeless; however, we know that "if God be for us who can be against us"? The vote on Bill C-38 is very close and your efforts could make the difference. I would like to ask you to do three things:
1. Pray. The great preacher J. Sidlow Baxter once said, "Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers."
2. Teach. We must educate our parishioners to be good citizens and participate in democracy. On average, just 50 committed workers help elect Members of Parliament. Are there fifty righteous among us? If so, then Canada will be healed. People also need to be taught biblical principles to defend marriage -- we encourage you to do so.
3. Take Action. Canada needs to hear from her spiritual leaders. In fact, one ethnic community leader recently asked Defend Marriage Coalition representatives, "Where is the Caucasian Church on this issue?" It was an interesting perspective coming from ethnic leaders -- the expectation is that the Church should provide leadership.
The attached document has been produced by The Defend Marriage Coalition and provides suggestions for specific and meaningful actions that the spiritual leaders of Canada can take. As we know, "faith without works is dead . . . " and, in this instance, our work is desperately needed towards turning the moral tide in Canada.
I urge you to stand with CFAC and The Defend Marriage Coalition to protect marriage for our children and generations to come. We have the responsibility and are obligated to not allow the cornerstone of civilization, the pillar of society, and the foundation of the Church to be redefined. We have the opportunity, the power, and a responsibility to lead.
Dr. Charles McVety, President
Canada Family Action Coalition
Endorsed by: Wesley and Stacey Campbell, Be a Hero; Ron and Patricia King, Extreme Prophetic; Steve and Derene Shultz, THE ELIJAH LIST
Please forward this for prayer to all you can . . . both INSIDE and OUTSIDE of Canada . . . we simply must STAND with Believers in Canada for morality and religious freedom.
Here is the CLERGY BRIEFING I received today . . .
Steve Shultz
THE ELIJAH LIST
www.elijahlist.com
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
www.BreakingChristianNews.com
CLERGY BRIEFING April 5th, 2005
Stand with Bishop Fredrick Henry for Religious Freedom, Marriage, and Canada
The most recent salvo fired at the heart of religious freedom in Canada came with last week's formal announcement that Roman Catholic Bishop, Fredrick Henry of Calgary, Alberta, is being investigated on a Human Rights complaint for speaking out in a congregational letter on the subject of human sexuality and same-sex marriage. This development is extremely grave in nature because it is directed at one of Canada's leading clerics within Canada's largest religious organization.
If Bishop Fred Henry is not free to speak to his own congregation on the subject -- biblical and Church teaching on same sex marriage -- then who is? The answer is that no one is safe unless one is willing to abdicate their right and responsibility to speak the truth, even if done in love. More importantly, things are only going to get much worse unless we, as Canada's faith leaders, determine now to take decisive and collective action.
The notion that "same-sex legislation" won't directly impact Churches and religious leaders is dangerously naive. The track-record of those who seek to silence the Judeo-Christian ethic in public discussion is clear -- consider the following:
The Record: Since
"same-sex marriage" has been forced upon Canadians by way of 1illegitimate, 2lower court rulings, we have seen the following examples of attack against people of faith:
• Dozens of marriage commissionaires, both clergy and non-clergy, in several Canadian Provinces have been fired for refusing to perform same-sex marriage unions. (Religious leaders should seek to protect the conscience rights of nonreligious Canadians as much as their own rights as religious people, otherwise their efforts to protect our own freedoms can be interpreted as self-serving.)
• Military and prison chaplains, who work under Federal jurisdiction, have been directed to perform same-sex marriages or resign. This policy has the effect of ghettoizing conservative religious leaders by forcing them out of public service. Military and prison chaplaincies in Canada would thus be dominated by left-leaning religious leaders (those who support same-sex marriage).
• The Knights of Columbus in BC are being sued for refusing to allow their facility to be used by a homosexual couple in celebration of their same-sex marriage. Facilities owned by religious organizations are thus not exempt from attack.
• A private citizen, 3Dr. Chris Kempling of British Columbia, has been suspended from his job for three months, without pay, for writing a letter to the editor opposing Bill C-38.
• A Catholic Bishop is now facing 4prosecution by a Human Rights Tribunal (funded with Federal tax dollars) for expressing his Church's position on the same-sex marriage issue
The Action Plan: We must take meaningful and decisive action -- for the sake of our future.
• Publicly support the Bishop in his right to speak out, both privately (within his congregation) and publicly, on the issue of marriage and biblical morality surrounding sexuality.
- Issue a local "media release" or, even better, issue a "joint statement" of the faith leaders within your community, or denomination, or ministerial in support for Bishop Fred Henry.
- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of Bishop Henry.
- Call on the government, both provincially and federally, to address the real issue of religious persecution and intolerance in Canada. Freedom of Conscience and Religion are not just words in the Charter -- they are fundamental freedoms and the "higher law" to which all institutions and laws in Canada must adhere.
• Join with us to defeat the anti-marriage Bill (C-38). A second reading vote will likely take place on or shortly after April 19th. This Bill must be defeated, preferably at second reading.- Bill C-38 is an anti-marriage Bill; it is an attack against 5religion, against 6marriage, and against the social stability of Canada.
- 7Religious rights protections in Bill C-38 are meaningless and dangerously misleading. Remember, this is the same federal government that is forcing certain Cabinet ministers who believe in traditional marriage to vote against their consciences or be fired. This government has also issued a directive to force military chaplains to perform same-sex marriages.
• Meet with your MP to inform her/him that the present anti-religious climate in Canada has convinced you that religious freedoms are under real threat and that you consider Bill C-38 a further attack against freedom, faith, community and family -- Bill C-38 must be defeated (not amended)- Ask them firmly to vote against Bill C-38.
- Ask them to support legislation that will specifically define marriage as between one man and one woman -- the use of the notwithstanding clause is not necessary.
- If they agree with you, let them know how much you appreciate their stand and also that you will let others know of their position.
- If they disagree with you, tell them that you are very disappointed and will be informing others of their position.
• Be willing to take some public criticism. Realize that speaking for marriage is not a matter of popularity but of leadership. No matter how much compassion and wisdom you apply in speaking publicly on this issue, you will get criticized.
At the same time, remember that 66% of Canadians support traditional marriage. Most of those 66% don't go to church regularly -- they are looking for leadership to represent them on this issue. I'm sure you'll agree, the future of Canada, the kind of civilization we pass down to future generations of our own children, makes our small sacrifice today worthwhile.
The Good News: Now is not the time to pull back or back down -- we can win.
• At present, 95 Conservative MPs, as many as 38 Liberal MPs, 8 Block MPs, 2 independent MPs, and 1 NDP MP has indicated publicly that they will vote against Bill C-38. There are about 30 MPs who are genuinely undecided or have not indicated how they will vote.
• We only need to persuade about 10 more MPs to vote against Bill C-38 in order to kill the Bill. We need to apply every persuasive pressure possible on Paul Martin and his Liberal government to withdraw this egregious Bill.
Stay Informed: Stay up to date on this issue. For the next few weeks, make
www.defendmarraige.ca your home page.
• Sign up for updates.
• Take advantage of the information and opportunities for involvement offered.
• Find out where particular MP(s) stand on the marriage issue and how they plan to vote.
• Continue to pray.
1 The Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not make reference to ‘same sex marriage' or even ‘sexual orientation' and yet these rights are being recognized at the expense of "freedom of religion and conscience," freedoms that are specifically included in the Charter. These judges purposefully ignore freedoms specifically spelled out in the Charter in favor of rights that are not in the constitution. It is also of great importance to remember that most of these judges that have been appointed by liberal minded Prime Ministers for their political leanings and/or ideological positions on the issues that they are now ‘ruling' on. Thus the integrity of the courts and the potential good of the Charter itself is are being undermined by the abuse of the powers given the Prime Minster, in appointing judges.
2 The Supreme Court of Canada has never ruled to require same sex marriage as some suggest. The Court did, however, hand responsibility back to Parliament to decide the matter -- which is why there is a Parliamentary vote now taking place on the issue of marriage.
3 In a decision handed down on April 4th, 2005, Quesnel School District Superintendent Ed. Napier suspended school counselor Dr. Chris Kempling for three months without pay for a letter to the editor printed in the local news paper. The letter is posted for reference on
www.defendmarriage.ca.
4 See www.defendmarriage.ca or www.lifesitenews.ca for details of Bishop Henry's statements.
5 Every major world religion agrees on the definition of marriage being between one man and one woman.
6 Only two nations in the world have legislated same sex marriage, and the consequence in both instances is a dramatic drop in the numbers of people bothering to get married (see www.defendmarriage.ca).
7 It is important to note that the reference to protect religious freedoms within Bill C-38 an attempt to mislead ordinary Canadians. According to a directive from the Supreme Court of Canada, the federal government has no legal authority to provide any religion rights protection for persons authorized to solemnize marriages. It is a matter of Provincial jurisdiction and several Provinces have already forced people to solemnize same sex unions or be fired from their position as commissionaires and chaplains.
by Patricia King
Extreme Prophetic
www.extremeprophetic.com
250-765-9286
Letter to the Editors, Washington Times, circa fall, 1998:
In the waning hours of the 105th Congress, quiet efforts to pass controversial legislation are under way.
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act... cites violence based on sexual orientation as a Hate Crime.
Hate Crimes have commonly been racially motivated. Only in Canada has sexual orientation been included in anti-hate and human rights legislation. The Canadian law does not focus exclusively on physical violence-- it includes all forms of communication as well.
...As a Canadian living in the United States, I fear for your freedom, mainly because you take it for granted.
If my words were published in a Canadian newspaper... I would be charged with inciting hate under the criminal code.
Freedom of speech no longer exists in Canada-- I could not state that AIDS is largely found within the homosexual community, nor quote statistics to back up my assertion.
My opinion would make me a criminal. Since "tolerance" has been redefined... only Political Correctness is tolerated...
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a signifigant foot in the door for homosexual rights lobbyists-- it validates the entire... movement as an endangered group in need of special legislative protection.
Violence against any person is already illegal, no matter what the motive.
I find it offensive that violence is noteworthy only when the victim ( is)... a member of some political action group.
Susan Mayhew
Herndon, Virginia
Canada ... on the fast track to Sharia law.
Pretty scary stuff from the secular oligarchy up north.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Whwn this happens here, there will be a groundswell of opposition, the likes of which we haven't seen since The Revolutionary War. I hope...
I wish I could agree with you.
It is amazing how many people up here have totally bought into the homosexual agenda.
With the SCOTUS' propensity for using foreign laws as precedents for their rulings, it won't be long before we see it here. We need to do something to reign in the courts in the US. NOW!
If Canada wants to take on the Catholic Church, Canada will lose.
As much as I would like to believe that Canadians would rise up and force this crap into the toilet, I just don't think Canadians have it in them.
As I understand it, Canadians are disarmed, disillusioned and docile.
In other words....
Here in the States the gays have been retailing the "civil rights" canard (they have full civil rights -- but nobody has a civil right to marry a fireplug, or a dog, or a person of the same gender). Law & Order did its bit two nights ago, pushing a gay-marriage-themed story, and then last night C.S.I. did a gory transsexual story that my old man wouldn't have watched to the end -- you wouldn't believe the kinky details. I don't recall ever having seen a television show in which the word "fellatio" was used so many times -- and it wasn't just in passing! These TV writers are really pushing it in our faces.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Bump for later reading.
History is littered with the wreckage of nations that became indifferent to God, and died.
Another Canadian nitwittery BUMP.
The Left continues its drive to alienate inalienable rights.
Humans will put up with almost anything, but to criminalize the freedom of belief is the exact overreaching of authority that has led to war again and again and again throughout time.
I hate to say it, but it may be time for Canada to die so that something better may be born.
"Its time for Canadians to send Prime Minister Paul Martin's Government a message..."
Give me a break! It's been time for the somnambulant Canucks in Canuckistan to send their Liberal government messages for a very long time. Yet, outrage after outrage, and atrocity after atrocity, the Canucks have continued to elect and reelect their whip-wielding Liberal masters generation after generation. The record shows that Canucks are masochistic and love the lash!
F*** Canuckistan, land of the Burqa and Sharia Law!
"If Canada wants to take on the Catholic Church, Canada will lose."
Why do you say this? The liberal agenda appears to be a runaway train with the silent majority laying on the tracks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.