Canadian National Public Radio Broadcasts Call for State Control of Religion

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | 20 July 2005

[Aussie Dasher]

OTTAWA, July 19, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Just as Senate approaches the final vote on the gay 'marriage' bill, C-38, Canada's national public radio CBC Radio has aired a commentary by a retired professor from the Royal Military College calling for state control over religion, specifically Catholicism. While parliamentarians dismissed warnings by numerous religious leaders and experts that such laws would lead to religious persecution, former professor Bob Ferguson has called for "legislation to regulate the practice of religion."

"Given the inertia of the Catholic Church, perhaps we could encourage reform by changing the environment in which all religions operate," Ferguson began his commentary in measured tones yesterday. "Couldn't we insist that human rights, employment and consumer legislation apply to them as it does other organizations? Then it would be illegal to require a particular marital status as a condition of employment or to exclude women from the priesthood. "

Ferguson continued, "Of course the Vatican wouldn't like the changes, but they would come to accept them in time as a fact of life in Canada. Indeed I suspect many clergy would welcome the external pressure."

The former professor pitched his idea as a boon to religious freedom. "We could also help the general cause of religious freedom by introducing a code of moral practice for religions," he said. "They will never achieve unity so why not try for compatibility? Can't religious leaders agree to adjust doctrine so all religions can operate within the code?"

Ferguson, would see religion regulated by provinces in the same way professions are regulated. "I am an engineer so the model I am thinking about is rather like the provincial acts regulating the practice of engineering," he said. "For example, engineers must have an engineering degree from a recognized university or pass qualification exams. They must have a number of years of practical experience and pass an ethics exam. The different branches: mechanical, electrical, civil and the like have a code of practice that applies to everyone. Why can't religious groups do the same?"

Continuing his comparison Ferguson stated, "I envisage a congress meeting to hammer out a code that would form the basis of legislation to regulate the practice of religion. Like the professional engineers' P.Eng designation, there would then be RRPs (or registered religious practitioners). To carry the analogy to its conclusion, no one could be a religious practitioner without this qualification."

Ferguson also suggests 'obvious' prohibitions on religion including preaching of 'hate'. "I won't try to propose what might be in the new code except for a few obvious things: A key item would have to be a ban on claims of exclusivity. It should be unethical for any RRP to claim that theirs was the one true religion and believers in anything else or nothing were doomed to fire and brimstone. One might also expect prohibition of ritual circumcisions, bans on preaching hate or violence, the regulation of faith healers, protocols for missionary work, etc.," says Ferguson.

The retired professor concluded his comments aired on CBC yesterday morning saying, "Now what is the point of proposing this? I do it because I am worried that the separation between church and state is under threat. Religion is important in our lives, but it can become a danger to society when people claim that the unalterable will of God is the basis for their opinions and actions. Yes religion can be a comfort and a guide, but we cannot take rules from our holy books and apply them to the modern world without democratic debate and due regard for the law."

Listen to an audio recording of the commentary: http://cbc.ca/commentary/media/20050718JUL18.ram

[eyespysomething]

"We could also help the general cause of religious freedom by introducing a code of moral practice for religions," he said. "They will never achieve unity so why not try for compatibility? Can't religious leaders agree to adjust doctrine so all religions can operate within the code?"

I am stuned wordless.

[SittinYonder]

"Of course the Vatican wouldn't like the changes, but they would come to accept them in time as a fact of life in Canada. Indeed I suspect many clergy would welcome the external pressure."

I am likewise stuned, but if the truth were told isn't this what the ACLU et al. have been praying (no, not a good choice of words ...) suing for all these years?

[sassbox]

please tell me this is satire - it sure sounds nutty enough to be a joke.

[VeniVidiVici]

Canada - state sponsored religion.

Nothing to see here. Move along, comrade.

[Hat-Trick]

Marked for later. The guys at Friday Morning Prayer Breakfast aren't gonna believe this crap.

[eyespysomething]

I can't wait for them to tell the Muslims how they need to adjust their religion, and that they will appreciate the external pressure soon enough.

[american colleen]

Henry VIII tried it when he wanted to make Anne Boleyn the Queen after he boinked her. Then when he wanted to make Jane Seymour the Queen he just lopped Anne's head off.

Another example of how sin makes you stupid! :-)

[Mogollon]

The rat professor is advocating lukewarm Christianity that will be spewed out, if I remember my scripture correctly. (Something about the Laodician church in the latter days comes to mind).

[little jeremiah]

later incredibly bad pingout.

[american colleen]

Sounds exactly like the novels Michael C. O'Brien writes, specifically:

1) Strangers and Sojourners
2) Plague Journal
3) Eclipse of the Sun

[quadrant]

I wonder if Muslims would be required to open the ranks of their religious leaders to women?

[annalex]

I do it because I am worried that the separation between church and state is under threat. Religion is important in our lives, but it can become a danger to society when people claim that the unalterable will of God is the basis for their opinions and actions. Yes religion can be a comfort and a guide, but we cannot take rules from our holy books and apply them to the modern world without democratic debate and due regard for the law."

MACVSOG68, you have a disciple in Canada.

[Betty Jane]

"Of course the Vatican wouldn't like the changes, but they would come to accept them in time as a fact of life in Canada. Indeed I suspect many clergy would welcome the external pressure."

I think with the new Pope saying he would like a smaller, but more believing Church, he may just tell Canada that if they were to implement this policy, the Church will remove its presence from that country. Close and demolish all Catholic schools, churches, hospitals and universities.

[Cheapskate]

DAMMMN! those people are nuts!

[bourbon]

Unitarianism by fiat?

[Unam Sanctam]

Couldn't we insist that human rights, employment and consumer legislation apply to them as it does other organizations?

I'm sure the irony of this statement escapes the professor. Freedom of religion is a human right. What right does the Canadian government or any government have to dictate the Catholic Church's beliefs or internal practices?

[tom h]

Worse than that. Once Canada does it, then it will be advocated in the USA.

I see the book of Revelation coming true before our very eyes.

[Kozak]

I think the idea is to cobble a generalized/world religion.

Never heard of the "Unitarian" Church? They pretty much fit the bill.

[trebb]

I think the idea is to cobble a generalized/world religion.

Yep - part of Satan's plan to make all the churches apostate so they offer no path to God.

[Dominick]

One might also expect prohibition of ritual circumcisions, bans on preaching hate or violence, the regulation of faith healers, protocols for missionary work, etc.,"

etc.
etc.
etc.
I think the Chinese Catholic model is what he is shooting for here. Nothing like telling a Religion what to do. Hey, it worked for Henry VIII. It is nice to know he only mentioned Catholicism, we must be doing something right!