Proposed Canadian legislation could criminalize Scriptures ("C-250" outlaws "hate speech")

Calgary Herald/Can West News Service ^ | March 29, 04 | Bob Harvey

[churchillbuff]

Portions of the Bible are in danger of being condemned as hate literature, say religious groups opposed to changes in the Criminal Code to be debated next week by the Senate.

In a letter to Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said Friday that Bill C-250 proposes changes that could lead to the church being prosecuted for its teaching that "sexual conduct between people of the same sex is morally wrong."

"Participation in the current public debate on marriage has demonstrated there are individuals who believe that Catholic Church teaching on homosexual behaviour is hatred. We remain concerned that this bill as presently drafted could be used in an attempt to silence Church teaching in this regard," they said.

The Catholic bishops urged senators to change Svend Robinson's private member's bill, which includes sexual orientation in the hate propaganda sections of the Criminal Code, so that no one could be prosecuted under the hate crimes provisions for publicly commenting on sexual morality.

The bishops said they have seen the impact of including sexual orientation in previous legislation and suggested they have little confidence in reassurances that the changes in the Criminal Code will not affect freedom of religion.

"For example, when the question was about social benefits, reassurances were given that the traditional concepts of marriage and family were not at risk," they said.

Janet Epp Buckingham, the director of law and public policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, said senators have told her they are "getting a ton of phone calls and e-mails opposing the bill," but said there is also "quite a bit of momentum for the bill to pass."

The evangelical fellowship said that if C-250 is passed, it will endanger faith groups' freedom to read, preach and distribute sacred texts, and to publicly discuss and comment on sexual morality.

[churchillbuff]

ping

[GeronL]

"sexual conduct between people of the same sex is morally wrong."

Thoughtcrime! Call the cops!

[SandRat]

Wake up Canada!

They are about to tear up your founding document, burn the Magna Carta and return you to the status of Serfs to Feudal Lords.

Time for your own William Wallace to come forward.

[vpintheak]

Pray.

[randog]

The evangelical fellowship said that if C-250 is passed, it will endanger faith groups' freedom to read, preach and distribute sacred texts, and to publicly discuss and comment on sexual morality.

Let them drag priests and ministers out of churches in handcuffs, then padlock the doors and stretch yellow tape across them--it might wake a few folks up.

[Unam Sanctam]

Other relevant posts are the following:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1108230/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1108222/posts

[A Jovial Cad]

This is what happens when you a "constitution" that no one's bothered to write down: yesterday's "rights" become today's "hate crimes propaganda."
I wonder if any of the more conservative and freedom-loving Canadian provinces might want to secede and apply for statehood to the United States?

[churchillbuff]

This is what happens when you a "constitution" that no one's bothered to write down: yesterday's "rights" become today's "hate crimes propaganda."

Don't be too confident that we're safe in America just because of the First Amendment. There are liberal judges won't can't be trusted to defend it.

[Atchafalaya]

"...private member's bill,..." How appropriate.

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping + Hatespeech Up North Alert.

Of *course* the Bible (and every other monotheistic scripture in the world) is hatespeech! We're taught to *hate* evil, wrongdoing, sin, and anything which separates us from God.

Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.

P.S. Link to a small thread about Gloria Steinem - down the thread is a comment from someone who heard her speak, wherein she admitted that monotheism is the root of all evil.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1108368/posts

[Atchafalaya]

Yeah, the push to "see" the Constitution as a "living document" will lead to the same slippery slope ie, it means whatever anyone wants it to mean.

[OOPisforLiberals]

Y'all aren't even close to seeing the full scope of this.

You want a real chiller? This right here is a conservative activist site. As such, there are many who find homosexuality morally wrong. This opinion (right or wrong) is discussed with regularity. How long, in minutes, do you think it would take after this legislation makes its way to the US, until an all out assault to get websites like this shut down, takes place?

When this goes into place, it will become an unstoppable weapon which will be used in shutting down (via torts, as well as 'hate investigations') conservative political speech sites.

Make no mistake about it, this is an exquisitely, brilliantly placed political weapon.

Believe it. It's coming. Think about this next time you even consider not voting, or going 3rd party because the RINO's have pulled another set of stupidity.

[RightWingAtheist]

Svend Robinson a.k.a The Burnaby Bareback Rough Rider, is a total hypocrite. He pats himself on the back for being a "human rights advocate," yet his bill is the greatest threat to human liberty in this hemisphere since the time Trudeau sent in tanks to quell Quebec. I was going to say that Robinson was the biggest hypocrite in all of Canada, but when you consider that the same people in the Canadian left who support this bill keep calling the U.S. a "facist police state," you realize that he's keeping good company.

[rogueleader]

Step one: pass marriage amendment

Step two: invade Canada

Step three: annex Canada

Step four: keep flag the same

[lilylangtree]

Another step towards outlawing Christianity. Canadians wouldn't dare outlaw islam, the religion of violence.

[Finalapproach29er]

Canada is turning into the SOVIET UNION. Un-freaking- believable.

Think about it; Russia has more rights than Canada.

[King Prout]

Step 4a: add a few stars

[sheik yerbouty]

"Al Qanada".

[SolutionsOnly]

The truth is that we ourselves are largely responsible for this sort of insanity - it's been creeping up on us for years. We've permitted it though apathy and complacency. Now we find ourselves at this point and what do we see? - people posting absolute nonsense about annexing Canada or Soviet Canuckistan as if somehow that's supposed to be constructive. Pretty stupid. This is not a Canadian phenomemon - we have the same 'hate speech' movement here. It's not uniquely 'their' problem. The Canada bashing is infantile. It's getting very, very old.