Posted on 02/13/2003 6:56:57 AM PST by Notwithstanding
In a ruling given virtually no media coverage, the Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatchewan, ruled that a man who placed references to Bible verses on homosexuality into a newspaper ad was guilty of inciting hatred. The December 11, 2002 decision was in response to an appeal of a 2001 Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (HRC) ruling which ordered both the Saskatoon StarPhoenix newspaper and Hugh Owens of Regina to pay CAN$1,500 to three homosexual activists for publishing an ad in the Saskatoon newspaper quoting Bible verses regarding homosexuality.
The purpose of the ad was to indicate that the Bible says no to homosexual behavior. The advertisement displayed references to four Bible passages: Romans 1, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, on the left side. An equal sign (=) was situated in the middle, with a symbol on the right side. The symbol was comprised of two males holding hands with the universal symbol of a red circle with a diagonal bar superimposed over top.
Justice J. Barclay rejected the appeal ruling: "In my view, the Board was correct in concluding that the advertisement can objectively be seen as exposing homosexuals to hatred or ridicule. When the use of the circle and slash is combined with the passages of the Bible, it exposes homosexuals to detestation, vilification and disgrace. In other words, the Biblical passage which suggests that if a man lies with a man they must be put to death exposes homosexuals to hatred."
Janet Epp Buckingham, Legal Counsel for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, told LifeSite: "The ruling that a verse from the Bible can be considered to expose homosexuals to hatred shows the danger for Scripture if Bill C-250 passes." Bill C-250, proposed by homosexual activist MP Svend Robinson, would see "sexual orientation" added to hate crime law as a prohibited ground of discrimination.
I do apologize for having given you (or others) the impression that I think you support homosexual acts. I have no idea what you believe on that score.
"From the article: The purpose of the ad was to indicate that the Bible says no to homosexual behavior. The advertisement displayed references to four Bible passages: Romans 1, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, on the left side. An equal sign (=) was situated in the middle, with a symbol on the right side. The symbol was comprised of two males holding hands with the universal symbol of a red circle with a diagonal bar superimposed over top." Hey Luis - I don't know about you, but a slash across a circle with two males holding hands seems to sum up very well the meaning of Romans, Leviticus, Corinthians... But again, that's beside the point (which, I believe, you miss)! In a free society, there's no reason why a man should not have the right to express his opposition (Biblically-based, in this case) to homosexuality. In PC liberal fascist Canada, people have lost their rights to free speech and the freedom of religion (and other freedoms as well). That is tyrannical.
But they don't. Homosexuals in Canada are free (as they are in the US) to live their lives as they see fit. They can have as many sexual partners as they want (anonymous ones also); they can have anal intercourse anytime they want - with any consenting adult. In fact, no one is constrained to live their lives by what God says, or by what the Bible says. No one in Canada is forced to either! However, that of course is not the issue at all. The issue is whether a man may express his opposition to homosexuality (just the way a man might want to express his opposition to bestiality, or incest, or bad language, or whatever...). In the US, we are given the right to express our beliefs freely (including, of course, religious belief) - to associate with whom we want - to assemble and try to convince others of our beliefs (as I am doing now). That right has been forgone in Canada. In Canada, the liberal fascist thugocracy wants to take away the right to say what one believes; in fact, they already have.
Thinking and believing (as many, including myself) that homosexual acts are contrary to the will of God is not bigotry, contradictor. I think bestiality is contrary to the will of God as well - and that also does not make me a bigot. I think selfishness is contrary to the will of God - but that doesn't make me a bigot against selfish people!!! C'mon - calling people bigots for believing homosexual acts are wrong is intolerance. You and I probably have different beliefs about homosexuality. I tolerate yours just fine. But I have the right to state and defend mine as well. Hope you can tolerate that!
No, Snowyman, it's just the opposite. The liberal thugocratic government of Canada was seeking to suppress God's words for its (the government's) own ends. That's tyranny.
Both of you are right. Courts are charged with, and try to do this. But they cannot look into a person's heart to know truly whether someone is repentant or not. Repentance can be, and often is, feigned. Only God can know the truth of it.
It's wrong and intolerant to call people 'bigots' who believe homosexual acts are wrong and immoral and against the will of God. I believe adultery is wrong (though a great many these days do not) - that doesn't make me a bigot either.
It's hard to take, but as a Christian, I believe it. We don't know what, on the insides of a man, compels him to commit evil acts. Many such men have much more to struggle with than we. But evil acts should be judged as such (the sin, not the sinner), and should be punished accordingly. We should leave the ultimate judgment of a man's worth to God and Christ.
You are losing freedom of the press right now - as this becomes a precedent. And you're right, this should be reported. Canadians should wake up, IMHO. But of course, the tyranny of your government is ultimately your business. Hope Canadians will find the cojones to fight it. BTW, have known many Canadians with a wonderful sense of humor. But that won't save their freedoms.
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