Posted on 04/30/2004 10:37:03 AM PDT by presidio9
A bill introduced by Canadian parliament member Svend Robinson that would make free speech against homosexuals a crime passed in the House of Commons.
The "Chill Bill," or C-250, passed by a vote of 140-110 on Wednesday despite objections from the religious community that religious speech would be limited by the law if they speak out against homosexuality.
If it becomes law, then the "Chill Bill," which is also known as the "Bible As Hate Literature" bill, would ban speech that would be used in condemnation of homosexuality or homosexual acts.
This is similar to the anti-hate speech law in Sweden where a Pentecostal minister is now facing charges for using the Bible to point out that homosexuality is a sin.
Robinson, who belongs to the socialist New Democratic Party in the Canadian parliament, has championed civil liberties issues in the past and is openly gay.
The "Chill Bill" would specifically amend Section 318 of the hate crime law by adding the phrase "sexual orientation" as the fifth protected class of people, adding to color, race, religion, and ethnic origin.
"It's a bill that recognizes that when hate crimes are perpetrated [in Canada] against those who are of a minority religion or race or ethnic origin or color, that Canada says this is wrong," Robinson said in defense of his bill.
Robinson asserts that homosexuals should also be included as part of the language of the hate crimes law.
"But there's one group in the country and that is gays and lesbians -- the group that has more hate crimes, more violence perpetrated against it -- that isn't included in the hate propaganda laws," Robinson notes.
However, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada President Bruce Clemenger believes this bill would have a decidedly "chilling effect" on people of faith who believe homosexuality is wrong.
"Whether this law leads to the prosecution of religious groups or not, it's almost certain to have a chilling effect," he told the Calgary Herald. "Will the Gideons still be allowed to place Bibles in motel rooms?"
Clemenger is concerned that the terms "hate" and "sexual orientation" are not defined in the legislation. The maximum penalty for these hate crime convictions is five years in prison.
Robinson responds to this by saying his bill was drafted to prevent "gay bashing" and contends that the notion that religious speech would be silenced by the bill is "utterly without foundation."
Even still, John McKay, a member of the Canadian parliament who voted against C-250, said those who oppose homosexuality will be forced to suffer the consequences of speaking out against them in the future if this bill becomes law.
"Anybody who has views on homosexuality that differ from Svend Robinson's will be exposed rather dramatically to the joys of the Criminal Code," McKay told the Canadian Press.
Canadian legislative observer Vic Toews said Robinson is simply advocating "fascism" to promote his radical agenda.
Derek Rogusky, the vice president of family policy for Focus on the Family Canada, said any legislation that limits the rights of people of faith while giving more rights to gays generally favors homosexuals when challenged in court.
"We've seen through the courts that when religious freedom comes up against gay rights, that in fact religious freedom tends to be more often than not the loser in those particular cases," Rogusky told CBC Newsworld.
But religious objections to homosexuality are already being condemned in Canada.
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission recently ruled that a newspaper ad that listed Biblical references in it opposing homosexuality amounted to a human rights offense. The newspaper and the man who took out the ad were forced to pay $1,500 each to three gay men who complained about it.
And in British Columbia, the supreme court said a high school teacher's one-month suspension without pay should remain because he wrote letters to the editor in his local newspaper contending that nobody is born with homosexuality.
Bill C-250 is now headed to the 105-member Canadian Senate for consideration.
Amen to that, brother/sister!! The Word is the Word for now and ever, simple.
Precisely. I really had no appreciation for America's freedom of speech until I learned that Canadian authorities jammed Northern U.S. border TV newscasts when they would cover Canada's infamous "Barbie and Ken" murder trial, ostensibly to prevent a possible mistrial.
His bill is a crock of crap as Christians are on the receiving end of much of the hate.
Where did this all begin? People of FR Judge these words for yourself, You have seen the rot and decay that these Liberals have spread since the 1970's in our own generation they have turned this country upside down they have taken over Ecumenical Churches with Liberation-Theology. Around the same time they took over the Democratic Party, and they also took over the US Educational System, and more recently they hijacked the US Judicial System.
America has been polarized by these groups who (I'll say it) feel no love for the America of our heritage, and no respect for the idea that we have been blessed in a very special way; that our "Framers" were enlightened men; and that because of the success of the system they started, we are in a position to help people of other countries to learn how to live in democracy.
Liberals and socialists are a religious movement.
We must recognize this - and act on the provision in our Constitution against any State Established religion. They are ideologically devoted to Government as their Supreme Being. This is tyranny, and we are in a cold Civil War right now to reject this tyranny.
Canadians have been dulled by the years of socialism, and the control of the Provinces by the MPs of Ontario and Quebec, to the point of numbness. I lived there for 20 years, and the conservative movement has no power at all.
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You mentioned the take-over of the schools and universities, churches, and judicial system. I foresee horrible things happening after our November elections. The 6 week travesty about Florida's Electoral votes, will be magnified gravely in many states this time. We now know that Dems will OPENLY contravene laws in their desperation. One was to stop this will be to get a supermajority for President Bush. We must make our conservative acquaintances realize how important is their vote, even if he is not "conservative enough" for them.
— George Mason
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