Posted on 06/09/2008 5:33:11 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
OTTAWA, June 9, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Friday, the Alberta Human Rights Commission ordered Alberta pastor Stephen Boissoin to desist from expressing his views on homosexuality in any sort of public forum. He was also commanded to pay damages equivalent to $7,000 as a result of the tribunal's November decision to side with complainant and homosexual activist Dr. Darren Lund. The tribunal has also called for Boissoin to personally apologize to Lund via a public statement in the local newspaper.
The remedy order demands the pastor to pay $5,000 to Lund personally for the "time and energy" he has expended and for the "ridicule and harassment" he has faced. Combined with that financial burden, Boissoin must also pay up to $2,000 in expenses to one of Lund's witness, provided she produces records of such costs.
Boissoin was first hauled before the Human Rights Commission to answer to a complaint filed by Lund, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary. Lund made his complaint after Boissoin published a letter to the editor in the Red Deer Advocate, in which he denounced homosexuality as immoral and dangerous, and called into question new gay-rights curricula permeating the province's educational system.
"Children as young as five and six years of age are being subjected to psychologically and physiologically damaging pro-homosexual literature and guidance in the public school system; all under the fraudulent guise of equal rights," wrote Boissoin in the letter.
In an interview, Boissoin told LifeSiteNews.com that he's under attack not only for his letter, but more significantly for his beliefs.
"The point I am trying to make here is what's being attacked at the core is what I believe, according to my personal beliefs and my religious beliefs."
Most disturbingly, says Boissoin, is that the ruling calls for him to "cease publishing in newspapers, by email, on the radio, in public speeches, or on the internet, in future, disparaging remarks about gays and homosexuals." Boissoin wondered to what extent the right to freedom of expression in Canada will be deteriorated, stating, "I am not allowed to hold on to my views."
The pastor also maintained that his beliefs are founded not on hate or malice, but derive from a personal concern for the family and society rooted not only in faith, but also in science.
"I am not allowed to hold my views, but the Lunds of the world are allowed to bring gay ministers into schools, they are allowed to present scientifically baseless teachings to kids that people are born gay."
"I am all for tolerance, I don't want to see anyone who calls themselves homosexual be discriminated against," added Boissoin. "At the same time I believe it is a behaviour, there is no scientific proof that anyone is born gay, but these teens are taught in our school systems that that is the way it is, that people are born homosexual."
Boissoin then addressed the potential implications of what he called a scientifically baseless pro-homosexual curriculum being taught in schools. "When you deem something acceptable, you increase the likelihood that they will participate in that, and that's a great concern to me," he said.
Boissoin also accused Lund of considently defaming him in another local newspaper, which either refused to publish Lund's rebuts or edited them severely.
He concluded by commenting on the Remedy order and the entire ordeal, which over the last six years has consumed tremendous time, energy and money - both from the pockets of taxpayers and Boissoin.
"Absurd - beyond absurd. I will never make a public apology; I stand by what I said. My context has never been taken into consideration. Lund's context has always been taken into consideration."
This will not be the last edition to the Boissoin story as he admitted to LifeSiteNews.com that he "will be appealing to an actual court of law."
Boissoin's is the latest in the string of actions by human rights commissions at both the national and provincial levels which have the nation in an uproar over the threat to freedom of speech and freedom of religion posed by the human rights commissions.
The Alberta government, which created the human rights commission, has ultimate authority over the Commission and its mandate, rules and who is appointed to the commission.
To Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach:
Office of the Premier Room 307, Legislature Building 10800 - 97th Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 Phone: (780) 427 2251 Fax: (780) 427 1349
BTTT
I can't believe free people in Canada remotely put up with this BS!
The second these POS tried their shinola in my backyard WAR would ensue! We in the US better be getting tired of this crap real soon! There is no question it infringes on basic rights to express your opinion!
I think it is imperative that this pastor not pay the fine nor publicly apologize. I am not quite sure what they can do to him if he doesn’t. If and when they do try to execute any action(s) against him that is when he needs to scream and scream loudly.
All the world needs to know that one can be punished for mere opinion and free speech restricted on basis of belief in Canada. NO one is trying to shut up the well organized Fruit Lobby, so why is this man being punished and denied his right to free speech. I saw nothing hateful in what he wrote or said. This is an outrage and the outrage draws nigh to the doorstep of these United States.
Obama’s vision for the US.
Here I stand. I can do no other.
People have died for their Christian beliefs. Good for him to stand strong. I would be so disappointed if he caved in any way. Although I hate the phrase: THIS is a time to speak truth to power.
If I naively believe that I deserve an actual trial before being fined for my thoughts...what does the commission have on hand to enforce their mandate?
If I swear that I don't think like that anymore - am I off based on temporary insanity?
(Too bad it's 30 years on, this'd make a helluva Python skit)
Well, the Canooks have their HRC (named no doubt after you know who) while we do it all voluntarily, don’t we, children. Is there a teacher in this country who will use the word ‘niggardly’ in a classroom? Will any male employee in a U.S. corporation say to a female employee “You look nice today”? Is there a technology company that will use the old term “master-slave”. As I said, we happily censor ourselves voluntarily.
But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
Luke 19:40
I’m afraid they’d just have to put me in jail. I would neither apologize nor pay.
Be careful about using language fashioned by the left as legitimate tools of debate. "Hate speech" has about as much meaning as the nebulous, malleable term "homophobe." Hate has its legitimate place and uses, though not usually (but sometimes) toward what people become. It has gotten a bad rap in today's PC environment - almost as bad a rap as "discriminate" and "morality" - solid concepts that are good in their intended used.
God hates, and he expects us to also. He hates sin, the Devil and his angels, the world and it's value system, death, decay, and rebellion. Read the Psalms and see if this isn't so. It's as good a word as Love in its place - it's not the absence of love, because God is Love, and God hates.
Instead making hate filled statements against Gays, try just making true fact filled statements about the unhealthy lifestyle and “risky behavior”. The World Health Organization came out with a statement, today, that there is not impending heterosexual pandemic. Aids is a disease that is spread through homosexual behavior and drug use, often a combination.
No one can criticize you for making a statement about unhealthy behavior, it’s like smoking. You wouldn’t want your kid to smoke, you don’t want your kid to take part in homosexual behavior.
I think these Canadian kangaroo courts are going too far, and after a few more cases like this, or maybe the Steyn case, will be dissolved as simply unjust and unworkable.
If I were this preacher I would also refuse to pay or apologize.
To hell with them.
I agree Eva. I think we get off track when we attack Homosexuals. We need to stick to attacking the behavior. We love the person, but hate the behavior, and that’s not a hate crime.
So well said that it needs to be repeated. Sidenote: I've often had a flash of insight telling me that evil is absence of love. I believe I've been in the presence of evil, or what I deemed evil -- evil is vacant, a void, an empty hole. Hate, on the other hand -- hate is very different from evil, though I'd never thought of it before, and thank you for stating it so clearly. It makes a lot of sense and helps clear a few things up for me!
This just makes me puke.
I'm not looking to start a theological riot but I have to respond to your comment: “I agree Eva. I think we get off track when we attack Homosexuals. We need to stick to attacking the behavior. We love the person, but hate the behavior, and thats not a hate crime.”
This is a variation on the “love the sinner but hate the sin” saying. I think it's pretty clear from Scripture that only Christ can separate the sin from the sinner through His atoning sacrifice. A sinner still mired in their sin (unredeemed), is a abomination to God who's main attribute is not Love —but Holiness...this is what separates unregenerate man from God.
” Here in the U.S., its not about advancing homosexual rights its about restricting or outright denying the rights of free people to personally discriminate as they please. “
I think you’re headed in the right direction, but wide of the mark.
It’s about the very deft manipulation of an unaccountable judicial oligarchy to seize, without authority, control of Social Institutions, and to dictate the Values that Society holds, by virtue of creating law which would not be passed by an elected body. It is an absolute assault on the separation of powers asserted by the Constitution, and a wholesale abrogation of the contact between the people and their government as defined in the Declaration of Independence.
And we should be saying so to everyone we know.
Loudly, clearly, and succinctly enough that they can repeat it to someone else.
” Maybe I missed it. Why isnt his church backing him up? “
You don’t understand. Under Canadian law, they would go to jail.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL, FOLKS.
THIS IS REAL.
THIS IS NOW.
I guess I used to read about church people dying for their beliefs. Jail seems trite by comparison. I guess nowadays, they can’t give up their limos for the cause. God forbid a bishop would go to jail for backing up his priests.
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