"I deny thee!!! ..... yet nevertheless I admit thou doth turn me on in prison movies....
Posted on 11/30/2005 6:02:32 AM PST by doc30
Vancouver — The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled yesterday that a Roman Catholic men's group, the Knights of Columbus, was entitled to turn away a lesbian couple who wanted to hold a wedding reception in their facility.
But in a decision that upset both sides in the dispute, the three-member tribunal also decided that the Catholic group had affronted the same-sex couple's dignity, feelings and self-respect, and that it should pay $2,000 to the two women to compensate for their injuries.
The tribunal upheld the religious freedom of the Knights of Columbus while reinforcing protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
The case gained national attention earlier this year after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper mentioned it during the national debate on same-sex marriages. Mr. Harper said at that time that permitting homosexuals to marry would lead to an assault on Canadians' freedom of religion.
Deborah Chymyshyn, 42, and Tracey Smith, 36, decided to wed after same-sex marriage became legal in British Columbia. They were planning a quiet event and were not looking for the limelight. "We just wanted to get married, we wanted to have a beautiful day, a wonderful celebration of our love," Ms. Chymyshyn said yesterday in a telephone interview from Edmonton.
The women booked the Knights of Columbus hall in the Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam for a reception on Nov. 1, 2003. An outdoor wedding ceremony was to be held earlier at a nearby park.
The couple was unaware that the hall was operated by a Catholic organization and said they would not have rented the hall if they had known.
"I know the Catholic Church is against same-sex weddings. Why would I want to put myself in that position?" Ms. Chymyshyn said, adding that the experience was "embarrassing and humiliating."
Those making the booking were also in the dark.
Sandra Hauser, who confirmed the rental on behalf of the Knights of Columbus, did not realize the event was a celebration of a same-sex marriage. Had she known, she said, she would have rejected the request immediately.
The Catholic group cancelled the reservation as soon as the sexual orientation of the couple was revealed.
In submissions to the rights tribunal, the group said it was justified in refusing access to the hall, because as Catholics, the Knights of Columbus oppose same-sex marriages.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects religious beliefs and protects property owned by the Roman Catholic Church from being used for a purpose that contradicts its beliefs, the Knights told the tribunal.
The tribunal agreed that the Knights could refuse access to the hall. The Catholic group could not be compelled to act in a manner contrary to its "core religious beliefs," the tribunal stated. The Supreme Court of Canada has consistently maintained that the Constitution protects sincerely held religious beliefs.
"However, it is also clear that right is not absolute," the tribunal decided. The Knights should have taken additional steps that would have recognized "the inherent dignity of the complainants and their right to be free from discrimination," the tribunal said.
The Knights could have met with the couple to explain the situation, formally apologized, and immediately offered to reimburse the couple for the expenses incurred in finding an alternative place, and in notifying guests of the new location, the tribunal said.
"The fact is they gave no thought to any option other than cancelling the rental," the tribunal wrote. The additional steps would have appropriately balanced the rights of both parties, the decision stated.
The decision upset Ms. Chymyshyn. "To me, this does not feel very right. [This case] was not about being polite while they deny us our rights," she said. "It was about discrimination."
The couple's lawyer, barbara finlay (who does not use capital letters in the spelling of her name), said she anticipated the women would seek a judicial review of the ruling.
George Macintosh, the lawyer for the Knights, said he was pleased that the tribunal upheld the group's religious freedom. But he said he was "disappointed" it ruled on other issues.
He said the tribunal does not have jurisdiction to deal with how the Knights acted after refusing to provide space for the couple's event. The group has not decided whether to seek a judicial review of the ruling, he added.
Looks like the churches should start asking for ID.
2nd Degree bump.
I'll bet she's a gem.
So Church organizations have the "right" to turn homosexual couples away...... but they have to buy those rights?
So every queer couple in Canada ought to apply to KofC for a reception and get $2K to cover their wedding expenses?
>>>"We just wanted to get married, we wanted to have a beautiful day, a wonderful celebration of our love," Ms. Chymyshyn said yesterday in a telephone interview from Edmonton.>>>
And get married in an extremely religious men's club. Yeah, right.
I smell agenda.
How the Heck did they not know the KC hall was Catholic? It takes about two seconds to figure that out inside of ours.
WW
Third Degree Knight.
The lesbos are lying. If they did not know that the K of C was a Catholic service organization, they need to get out more and look around.
The K of C owes them nothing. Nothing at all.
ping to KC list.
Here's the catch:
"Sandra Hauser, who confirmed the rental on behalf of the Knights of Columbus, did not realize the event was a celebration of a same-sex marriage. Had she known, she said, she would have rejected the request immediately."
Sure. Same result.
I'm gratified that the Church's stand has been "affirmed" FOR THE TIME BEING.
It won't be long, especially since the Magisterium has stated homosexuals are STILL disordered and problematic for ordination and acceptence into seminary that the next round of attacks begin.
Yeah, sure. Most KoC halls I've seen are pretty clearly marked as such on the outside.
Yeah, you'd think the photos of the Pope on the wall would make it pretty obvious.
Perhaps the Knights in Canada need to limit their reception facilities to wedding held in a Catholic Church.
Yep, and the "Abortion stops a beating heart..." sign is a pretty good clue too.
"I deny thee!!! ..... yet nevertheless I admit thou doth turn me on in prison movies....
I cannot wait until this is allowed in the USA. I will sue the ACLU, Sierra Club, NAMBLA, and every war protester I can. I could retire and start my own island nation.
Looks like the Church's religious freedom rights comes with a tax. This will be coming here soon enough.
I see as usual they are talking out of both sides of their mouths. Control sure is a funny thing.
Their address (should you wish to contribute toward helping them cover this fine:
Knights of Columbus Hall
2245 Fraser Ave.
Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 6G8
Yeah, you can smell the beer from the bar and the pingpong ball dust from the bingo game in the main hall.
Don't believe me? Go to the KoC Hall in Waterloo, Iowa, on Highway 218, near the Crossroads Shopping Center.
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