Posted on 07/19/2005 5:16:30 PM PDT by 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
This sounds like something I might have dreamed up when I was 18 and reading Bertrand Russell and Ayn Rand. Some super-rationalist, religion-hating intellectual's scheme to 'tame' world religion, because they fear it but also recognize they can't extinguish it.
People like this are genuinely stupid.
They have MADE themselves stupid with secular-humanist dogma.
Hehehe, Division-wise I'm not sure, but I believe he's got somewhere around 1.1 billion foot soldiers. :)
"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."
Orwell at work!
No wonder the slang for Canada's basic monetary unit is the "loony".
Why not skip to the chase and just ban religion?
No, they are a threat to the liberty of Holy Mother Church. The separation of Church and State means not allowing any religious influence on the State. It doesn't mean (at least to Liberals) not attacking religion and religious institutions.
I was hoping this was from Scrappleface -- alas, not.
What a crock. They are picking on the wrong religion, but today it fits their agenda. In the future, they will have wished they had done differently, but it will be too late . . .
This would never have happened if the abuses after Vatican II had not effectively destroyed the Catholic Church in Canada from within. The Church is now weak, emaciated, and her sons and daughters especially in Quebec have abandoned Her in droves. This legislation would never have had a hope if the Catholic Church in Canada hadn't sold its birthright for a mess of pottage.
Wow - Satan chimes in on Canadian Public Radio.
"calling for state control over religion, specifically Catholicism" I'm sure that will work, no problems I can see.
Read and enjoyed Father Elijha very much, I will have to check those three out.
I don't even think we have that much longer to go till open and clear attempts at suppression of orthodox Christianity. We already have a number equivocating those who are pro life with those who are jihadists.
We are in the twilight, and night will be here soon.
Unbelievable.
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