Canadian NPR Call for State Control of Religion, Especially Catholicism.

Canadian National Public Radio Broadcasts Call for State Control of Religion, Especially Catholicism 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 jhw

Utopia ah? Is it coming to America? The US Government already has issued a gag order on political speach in churchs. Unless your are a liberal democrate running for office preaching in an ethnic church.

So the 'moral code' potentially imposed by Canada, will be the logical next step after same sex marriage.

"Of course (they) wouldn't like the changes, but they would come to accept them in time as a fact of life in Canada."

Funny, that's the same thing they're saying about the implementation of sharia.

You'll have to take that one up with the maker of heaven and earth whose Son is the Light of World and is the doorway to Life Enternal. What a brazen statement, basically this lefty wants the Unitarian church established as the new "Church of England". Teddy bears and candles for all services!

Please do not discriminate against my sons choice of a stuffed cat, or my neices choice of a baby pillow. That would be exclusionary.

"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".

The problem with this is that all faiths have a claim to exclusivity. Even the Baha'i have entry criteria for their faith!

Catholics are always underground somewhere. China's a biggie these days. Canada would be a pale imitation of the Middle Kingdom.

Catacomb sales! A booming new field in the Great North!

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