[little jeremiah]

Hint hint - try to do it with paragraphs, it's really hard to read a whole block of print...

Just put < p > every time you want a paragraph (minus the spaces between the < and the p.

Just a friendly hint.

[Don W]

'Chill Bill' Passes Canadian House, Makes Free Speech Against Gays a Crime
By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
April 30, 2004

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (Talon News) -- A bill introduced by Canadian parliament member Svend Robinson that would make free speech against homosexuals a crime passed in the House of Commons.

The "Chill Bill," or C-250, passed by a vote of 140-110 on Wednesday despite objections from the religious community that religious speech would be limited by the law if they speak out against homosexuality.

If it becomes law, then the "Chill Bill," which is also known as the "Bible As Hate Literature" bill, would ban speech that would be used in condemnation of homosexuality or homosexual acts.

This is similar to the anti-hate speech law in Sweden where a Pentecostal minister is now facing charges for using the Bible to point out that homosexuality is a sin.

Robinson, who belongs to the socialist New Democratic Party in the Canadian parliament, has championed civil liberties issues in the past and is openly gay.

The "Chill Bill" would specifically amend Section 318 of the hate crime law by adding the phrase "sexual orientation" as the fifth protected class of people, adding to color, race, religion, and ethnic origin.

"It's a bill that recognizes that when hate crimes are perpetrated [in Canada] against those who are of a minority religion or race or ethnic origin or color, that Canada says this is wrong," Robinson said in defense of his bill.

Robinson asserts that homosexuals should also be included as part of the language of the hate crimes law.

"But there's one group in the country and that is gays and lesbians -- the group that has more hate crimes, more violence perpetrated against it -- that isn't included in the hate propaganda laws," Robinson notes.

However, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada President Bruce Clemenger believes this bill would have a decidedly "chilling effect" on people of faith who believe homosexuality is wrong.

"Whether this law leads to the prosecution of religious groups or not, it's almost certain to have a chilling effect," he told the Calgary Herald. "Will the Gideons still be allowed to place Bibles in motel rooms?"

Clemenger is concerned that the terms "hate" and "sexual orientation" are not defined in the legislation. The maximum penalty for these hate crime convictions is five years in prison.

Robinson responds to this by saying his bill was drafted to prevent "gay bashing" and contends that the notion that religious speech would be silenced by the bill is "utterly without foundation."

Even still, John McKay, a member of the Canadian parliament who voted against C-250, said those who oppose homosexuality will be forced to suffer the consequences of speaking out against them in the future if this bill becomes law.

"Anybody who has views on homosexuality that differ from Svend Robinson's will be exposed rather dramatically to the joys of the Criminal Code," McKay told the Canadian Press.

Canadian legislative observer Vic Toews said Robinson is simply advocating "fascism" to promote his radical agenda.

Derek Rogusky, the vice president of family policy for Focus on the Family Canada, said any legislation that limits the rights of people of faith while giving more rights to gays generally favors homosexuals when challenged in court.

"We've seen through the courts that when religious freedom comes up against gay rights, that in fact religious freedom tends to be more often than not the loser in those particular cases," Rogusky told CBC Newsworld.

But religious objections to homosexuality are already being condemned in Canada.

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission recently ruled that a newspaper ad that listed Biblical references in it opposing homosexuality amounted to a human rights offense. The newspaper and the man who took out the ad were forced to pay $1,500 each to three gay men who complained about it.

And in British Columbia, the supreme court said a high school teacher's one-month suspension without pay should remain because he wrote letters to the editor in his local newspaper contending that nobody is born with homosexuality.

Bill C-250 is now headed to the 105-member Canadian Senate for consideration.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

---

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[backhoe]

Or, click on the "printer friendly" version & copy:

'Chill Bill' Passes Canadian House, Makes Free Speech Against Gays a Crime
By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
April 30, 2004

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (Talon News) -- A bill introduced by Canadian parliament member Svend Robinson that would make free speech against homosexuals a crime passed in the House of Commons.

The "Chill Bill," or C-250, passed by a vote of 140-110 on Wednesday despite objections from the religious community that religious speech would be limited by the law if they speak out against homosexuality.

If it becomes law, then the "Chill Bill," which is also known as the "Bible As Hate Literature" bill, would ban speech that would be used in condemnation of homosexuality or homosexual acts.

This is similar to the anti-hate speech law in Sweden where a Pentecostal minister is now facing charges for using the Bible to point out that homosexuality is a sin.

Robinson, who belongs to the socialist New Democratic Party in the Canadian parliament, has championed civil liberties issues in the past and is openly gay.

The "Chill Bill" would specifically amend Section 318 of the hate crime law by adding the phrase "sexual orientation" as the fifth protected class of people, adding to color, race, religion, and ethnic origin.

"It's a bill that recognizes that when hate crimes are perpetrated [in Canada] against those who are of a minority religion or race or ethnic origin or color, that Canada says this is wrong," Robinson said in defense of his bill.

Robinson asserts that homosexuals should also be included as part of the language of the hate crimes law.

"But there's one group in the country and that is gays and lesbians -- the group that has more hate crimes, more violence perpetrated against it -- that isn't included in the hate propaganda laws," Robinson notes.

However, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada President Bruce Clemenger believes this bill would have a decidedly "chilling effect" on people of faith who believe homosexuality is wrong.

"Whether this law leads to the prosecution of religious groups or not, it's almost certain to have a chilling effect," he told the Calgary Herald. "Will the Gideons still be allowed to place Bibles in motel rooms?"

Clemenger is concerned that the terms "hate" and "sexual orientation" are not defined in the legislation. The maximum penalty for these hate crime convictions is five years in prison.

Robinson responds to this by saying his bill was drafted to prevent "gay bashing" and contends that the notion that religious speech would be silenced by the bill is "utterly without foundation."

Even still, John McKay, a member of the Canadian parliament who voted against C-250, said those who oppose homosexuality will be forced to suffer the consequences of speaking out against them in the future if this bill becomes law.

"Anybody who has views on homosexuality that differ from Svend Robinson's will be exposed rather dramatically to the joys of the Criminal Code," McKay told the Canadian Press.

Canadian legislative observer Vic Toews said Robinson is simply advocating "fascism" to promote his radical agenda.

Derek Rogusky, the vice president of family policy for Focus on the Family Canada, said any legislation that limits the rights of people of faith while giving more rights to gays generally favors homosexuals when challenged in court.

"We've seen through the courts that when religious freedom comes up against gay rights, that in fact religious freedom tends to be more often than not the loser in those particular cases," Rogusky told CBC Newsworld.

But religious objections to homosexuality are already being condemned in Canada.

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission recently ruled that a newspaper ad that listed Biblical references in it opposing homosexuality amounted to a human rights offense. The newspaper and the man who took out the ad were forced to pay $1,500 each to three gay men who complained about it.

And in British Columbia, the supreme court said a high school teacher's one-month suspension without pay should remain because he wrote letters to the editor in his local newspaper contending that nobody is born with homosexuality.

Bill C-250 is now headed to the 105-member Canadian Senate for consideration.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

---

[Highest Authority]

Inch by inch, the Canadian gubmint is headed toward the nut house!!!!!

[DemWatch]

As I watch Canada sink closer and closer to communism...I'm reminded of how great America is.

[joesnuffy]

God's word is against 'Sodomites'...this is the truth...and we are obligated to tell it...teach it..and preach it...

America was founded as a Chrsitian church relocation project...in order that men might worship Christ without the interference and interpretation of the King of England and his minons..

Speech which points out error in people's lives...is not only God inspired but God mandated

To attempt to muzzle Chrisitians by the state...is evil....the state has no such right...and need not be obeyed in this case

It's time American Christians back their Canadian bretheren against this evil....in their government....

imo

[atomicpossum]

Okay-- so when will they ban Islam and its 'hate speech?'

When Hell gets a hockey team, that's when.

[kingu]

Choices should never be protected; race, sex, age -- these are things that can't be changed, and discrimination based upon those criteria harms society. Religion and sexual preference are choices.

But should this pass, I'm wondering if the older 'right' supersedes the younger 'right'? Does the protections for choice of a religion allow discrimination for choices of sexual preference?

And does the choice of words 'sexual orientation' only protect those who can prove that they have a biological preference (good luck with that!) After all, anyone, if they're of a mind, might choose to bed one of the same sex - are they protected under this lunacy?

Oh, and did I set myself up to commit a crime in Canada? :)

[Libertina]

LOL Paragraphs are our friends ;)

[kanawa]

"Bill C-250 is now headed to the 105-member Canadian Senate for consideration rubber-stamping."