Posted on 04/28/2004 7:03:12 PM PDT by GMMAC
Liberal dominated Senate Oppresses Free Speech CFAC News Release April 28, 2004 - For Immediate Release
"Today the Senate sounded the final death knell in legislation that will severely limit free speech and freedom of religion and even freedom of the press in Canada," says Brian Rushfeldt, Executive Director, Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC). "As other democratic nations watch in amazement, Martin's Liberal government and the Liberal controlled Senate have passed Bill C-250, a draconian piece of legislation that will criminalize people who express an opinion contrary to homosexual behaviour, including views based on religion, conscience, morality, and even medical or humanitarian concerns."
Given the undefined, ambiguous wording in this severely flawed piece of legislation, Christians and other faith groups are worried that expressing their religious or moral views, or even quoting from the Bible or another religious text, may become a criminal act, says Rushfeldt. Every Canadian citizen who publicly opposes homosexual behavior will be criminalized, he says.
He points out that terms in the legislation, including 'hatred', 'promoting hatred' and 'sexual orientation' remain undefined. They will be determined only one is "taken" to court.
"I have been accused by homosexual activists of 'promoting hatred' simply for expressing the view that marriage should remain defined as between one man and one woman. Will expressing that view now make me a criminal? Will a religious leader who expresses the view that homosexuality is immoral be convicted of a hate crime? Will a parent who refuses to allow her child to take a sex education class promoting homosexuality be criminalized? Nobody can answer those questions, for it will now be up to the courts to interpret the ambiguous wording in this legislation."
Based on recent court decisions, CFAC has grave concerns about how this law will be applied and interpreted by judges. "There is a growing trend among courts and human rights tribunals to rule against religious freedom in favor of homosexual 'rights'," he points out.
"Civilized democracies are founded upon basic principles of freedom of speech, thought, opinion and religion. The Canadian Liberal government and the Senate have struck a severe and destructive blow against democratic freedoms. It is a little like Communists arresting someone because some authority decided you broke some law."
"The only solution now is to elect a government that will rescind or amend this dangerous undemocratic law. The fight is not over. We will be asking people not to vote for those MPs responsible for this."
1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association.
I guess a court could find that the "hate speech" laws would be "reasonable limits" under clause 1 that would obviate the rights under clause 2.
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