'Bible as hate speech' bill passes

WorldNetDaily ^ | September 18, 2003 | Art Moore

[joesnuffy]

LAW OF THE LAND 'Bible as hate speech' bill passes Sponsor: 'It's been a good week for equality in Canada'

Posted: September 18, 2003 9:00 a.m. Eastern

By Art Moore © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

Canada's House of Commons passed a controversial bill yesterday opposed by religious believers and free-speech advocates who say it will criminalize public expression against homosexual behavior.

The bill, passed 141-110, adds sexual orientation as a protected category in Canada's genocide and hate-crimes legislation, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.

"It's been a good week for equality in Canada," said the bill's sponsor, Svend Robinson, an openly homosexual member of Parliament.

The vote came just a day after MPs narrowly defeated a nonbinding motion reaffirming marriage is between a man and woman only.

As WorldNetDaily reported, opponents fear if Robinson's bill becomes law, the Bible will be deemed "hate literature" under the criminal code in certain instances, as evidenced by the case of a Saskatchewan man fined by a provincial human-rights tribunal for taking out a newspaper ad with Scripture references to verses about homosexuality.

"I was not surprised it passed, because we have a morally bankrupt government which cannot see past its bizarre liberal ideology," Brian Rushfeldt, executive director of the Canada Family Action Coalition, told WorldNetDaily.

The bill now goes to the Senate, which usually rubber stamps the House's legislation. Rushfeldt said he hopes the Senate will at least debate the issue and bring up "inherent dangers" in the bill not discussed in the House, but thinks that is not likely.

The legislation then is signed into law by the governor general, who represents the queen.

Robinson insisted an amendment protects religious expression, but opponents note recent court cases in which judges have favored homosexual rights when they clash with the rights of religious believers.

Some members of Parliament called it a "dangerous" law that muzzles free speech, including Liberal Party member John McKay, who dubbed it a "chill bill."

"Anybody who has views on homosexuality that differ from Svend Robinson's will be exposed rather dramatically to the joys of the Criminal Code," he said, according to the Edmonton Sun.

Rushfeldt contends one of the law's dangers is the term "sexual orientation" is not defined. He noted the American Psychiatric Association lists 24 behaviors under "sexual orientation." They include polygamy, bestiality and pedophilia.

"So if in fact the term does include pedophilia, the law protects it [from 'hate speech']," he said.

Robinson said fears that freedom of speech and religion will suffer are "a mask for homophobia for people who don't want to be honest about the real reason why they don't want to include sexual orientation in the law," according to the Toronto Globe and Mail.

He said he regularly receives hateful e-mails, the Toronto paper said, and his Burnaby, B.C., office was trashed in 1988 when he became Canada's first openly homosexual member of Parliament.

Related stories:

'Bible as hate speech' bill nearing vote

Bible verses regarded as hate literature

Punishment includes Islam indoctrination

The Bible as 'hate literature'?

Freedom of conscience debated in Ontario

Man appeals fine for rejecting 'gay' client

[KQQL]

Wes Clark, who said he does not consider homosexuality a sin, said the military needs to reconsider the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gay service members.

Here we go again

[BenLurkin]

Methinks the Canadians who did NOT register their fire-arms made the correct decision.

[MHGinTN]

If and when the current democrat powerbase gets back into power in the White House and Congress, the liberalization landslide will make Canada look downright conservative.

[goldstategop]

Oh Canada! Let every Queer and Theophobe call it our home and native land. Keep Canada forever socialist. We liberals stand on guard for thee. We liberals stand on guard for thee.

[Reagan79]

"I was not surprised it passed, because we have a morally bankrupt government which cannot see past its bizarre liberal ideology,"

Aint that the truth! Best qoute of the day however.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Why is it that the Bible is condemned as "hate speech" for it's stance on Homosexuality, yet the Koran gets a pass when it calls for the murder and torture of Christians and Jews?

We know why. Christian persecution is rife in the world today and it's making headroads now in this hemisphere. Doesn't anyone find it interesting that the term "Bible is hate speech" was first parroted by Hillary Clinton and Janet Reno? Yet people cannot see a worldwide constancy to these things. One World Government, anyone?

[Held_to_Ransom]

Why is it that the Bible is condemned as "hate speech" for it's stance on Homosexuality, yet the Koran gets a pass when it calls for the murder and torture of Christians and Jews?

Because, like yourself, most everyone doesn't read it.

[goldstategop]

The Koran and Fundamentalist Muslims pose no immediate danger to the liberal agenda whereas Christianity threatens to roll it back. And liberals whether in Canada or the USA simply can't have that. As they see it, a religious society would put liberalism into a "Blade Runner" future with no way back.

[NRA2BFree]

Because, like yourself, most everyone doesn't read it.

Most people don't read the Bible either, so what's the difference? Aren't the Muslims ordered to read the Koran?

[Held_to_Ransom]

Blade Runner? I get you point, but I don't qaite see the analogy to that it in blade runner. However, given the liberality of Hollywood, it's hard to find a good movie metaphor. I was thinking more of Planet of the Apes.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

I've studied it for 34 years.

[DLfromthedesert]

Wes Clark is a very dark, dangerous individual posing as a patriot. He's the military's version of Ted Turner.

[Held_to_Ransom]

Aren't the Muslims ordered to read the Koran?

I believe the appropriate word is required. Mostly because it's the only book in town for most of them. There's not many other ways to learn to read at all.

In New England in the 19th century, the primary goal amd reqiorement of public grade school was to make everyone a good enough reader to read and understand the Bible. Literacy rates were higher then, as well as the quality of public education.

[TheDon]

Rushfeldt contends one of the law's dangers is the term "sexual orientation" is not defined. He noted the American Psychiatric Association lists 24 behaviors under "sexual orientation." They include polygamy, bestiality and pedophilia.

Now what was it that Sen. Santorum said?

[Held_to_Ransom]

Ok, fair enough. The Koran is available on the Web. Give us the appropriate link that you most assurdly can find in no time flat.

Unless, of course, you really haven't read it.

[WOSG]

Think of it this way ... we were this close to becoming Canada in 2000. we got darned close in 1993. and courts can turn us into canada if we dont stop Judicial tyranny.

[NRA2BFree]

In New England in the 19th century, the primary goal amd reqiorement of public grade school was to make everyone a good enough reader to read and understand the Bible. Literacy rates were higher then, as well as the quality of public education.

That's really the truth. How did we ever let things get so bad in our schools? Oh yes, I forgot, the government got involved.

BTW, Welcome to Free Republic. :)

[ConservativeLawyer]

the governor general, who represents the queen

Some gay guy in Canada gets his own governor general?

[goldstategop]

The Governor General is the representative of the Queen in Canada. He signs all laws passed by Parliament and acts as Canada's Head Of State when the Queen is not in Canada. Before 1950 he was an agent of the British government; nowadays, he is almost always a Canadian citizen who acts on the advice of the Cabinet. The Governor General had the power of veto but the first Prime Minister John Alexander Mac Donald, declared it unconstitutional and it has never been used. The current Governor General is Her Excellency, the Honourable Adrienne Clarkson.