CANADIAN court agrees that BIBLE is HATE LITERATURE

CWNews.com ^ | 2-11-2003 | staff

[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.

[Sangamon Kid]

Luis, 2 questions:
1. Are you a practicing homosexual, or have you ever been one?
2. Do you believe that the scriptures allow for men or women to practice homosexuality?

[yendu bwam]

Let's say that we took the same ad, and instead of two men's hands inside that circle, I chose to place a white hand, and a black hand...then mader some sort of comment about how wrong inter-racial marriage is. Would that be considered offensive?

Many people (but not all) would find that offensive. But that's not the point at all, Luis. In the United States, I have the right to say whatever I want - whether it be offensive to someone or not. Your idea that we should squelch offensive speech is offensive to me - but that's irrelevant to your freedom to say it. If I say any of the following, someone will be offended: abortion is wrong, the Confederate flag shouldn't be flown over state capitols, Boy Scouts should ban homosexual scoutmasters, Catholic priests should be allowed to marry, etc. etc. Once you ban speech that offends, you have the power to ban all speech. The 1st Amendment guarantees the right to free speech, NOT the right not to be offended. Homosexuals have told me they have the right to teach my children about anal intercourse, to take my sons camping in my absence, to teach my kids that God has no problem with homosexual acts. I find all of these statements patently offensive and wrong and I vehemently disagree with them, but I recognize their right to say them. You're confused about free speech. Once free speech is taken away, your ability to organize politically, your ability to refute the government's stand on something, your ability to stand for what you believe in is taken away. That's what's happening in Canada. That's tyranny.

[yendu bwam]

I was *pinged* to this thread.

Didn't realize, Luis.

[yendu bwam]

Christians my friend, aren't perfect. We're just forgiven.

If you are truly repentant and try your very hardest (with God's help) to resist the temptation to sin...

[yendu bwam]

The purchaser of the ad did not change the words of God as shown in the bible. Therefore, he obviously is not perverting them.

Precisely.

[MEGoody]

"Christian intolerance" will be on trial.

Those who make these sorts of claims have already tried, convicted and sentenced Christians. No matter what we do within the confines of our faith, they will not be satisfied.

[MEGoody]

"Christians my friend, aren't perfect. We're just forgiven."

Should we then continue in sin so that grace may abound? By no means!

[Luis Gonzalez]

But providing them with amunition is not the answwer either.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Is there a limit to the number of times Christ will forgive a sinner?

[MEGoody]

"But providing them with amunition is not the answwer either."

If they don't have ammunition, they will make it up. They won't be stopped no matter what we do. And frankly, I'm not surprised. Jesus said they hated Him, they will hate us.

[MEGoody]

"Is there a limit to the number of times Christ will forgive a sinner?"

Didn't say there was. I was simply quoting what Paul says in scripture to a group of people who thought it was perfectly okay to keep right on enjoying their prior sins after being saved by grace through faith.

[Sangamon Kid]

Luis, 2 questions:
1. Are you a practicing homosexual, or have you ever been one?
2. Do you believe that the scriptures allow for men or women to practice homosexuality?

[yendu bwam]

Is there a limit to the number of times Christ will forgive a sinner?

Not, Luis, if is he is truly repentant. But he who sins in the assured expectation of forgiveness is not truly repentant. Those who are wed to their sins need to be very careful.

[yendu bwam]

The Canada of the future: Not allowed to put ads in papers opposing abortion - might be seen as hate speech against moms who want to kill their children. - Not allowed to put ads in papers opposing adultery - might be seen as hate speech against adulterers. - Not allowed to put ads in papers opposing Islamic terrorists - might be seen as offensive to Muslims. - Not allowed to put ads in papers suggesting that immigration be more limited - might be seen as offensive to immigrants. The Canada of the future: not allowed to state your opinion about something. The Canada of the future: keep your mouth shut - for your own good - or else.

[Red Boots]

Fascinating article... thanks

[Luis Gonzalez]

What beliefs I have about the scriptures, or those that you may have for that matter, have little impact on secular laws.

We live in a day and age of "community standards", a concept well-known to good Christian folks waging war against nude bars and porn shops in the streets of their towns. The problem with these "community standards" is that all members of the community have a say-so. This ad was brought up to Court by someone who took offense (I can't think of another way a Judge would have gotten to pass judgement on this), and they won.

As for your first question, I hate to disappoint you, I hope I didn't come across as if I was leading you on.

I may have some good news for you however. My wife says that there are a couple of guys in her office that may be interested, and she would be happy to help you all exchange e-mail addresses.

Let me know if you're interested, and I'll pass the message on to her.

The girl can't help it, she's a hopeless romantic, and right now, is in full-blown Valentine's mode.

Good luck to you, and I hope you meet a nice guy someday.

[Canadian Outrage]

Well I live in the West, am a born-again Christian, live in a small City Bible Belt area and our speech has certainly not been inhibited yet. Nor frankly, will it ever, I would go to jail first. Svend Robinson comes from the scum end of Vancouver and is so totally given over to his depravity that he no longer knows what's right. He is demon possessed imo. And for that matter, Jean Creepien is also. I agree that Canada needs a major political overhaul but unless Ontario gets a grip and stops voting in Federal Liberals, we don't have a chance. Only chance is Western Separation. Some of you speak with a very broad brush. You are not knowledgeable about the entire country. It is a very fractionated Country and the public Federal Leadership of this Country are disproportionately representing an actual minority. Most Westerners are freedom loving, God loving, Gun Loving & possessing people.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I'm not at all confused about free speech at all.

But freedom of speech isn't absolute either.

As I said, one can't yell "fire" in a crowded theatre, one can't hide behind freedom of speech to run money scams, one can't advocate the violent overthrow of the government, one can't incite a riot.

I could go on with examples of prefectly permissible limitations on free speech.

You are staging a valiant defense of this minister's right to place this ad, and speak his mind freely about his religious beliefs.

Do you defend the right of Muslims to do the same? To openly condemn America and western civilization in general from their Mosques for being ungodly?

Don't take the easy way out and say that theirs isn't a religion, under secular law, you don't get to define anyone else's religion anymore that anyone gets to define yours.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Let us know how much bail you are going to need to raise.

:-)