Politics
Monday June 27, 2005
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
Recovered Homosexual Speaks at Fundraising Dinner For Persecuted B.C. Teacher, Chris Kempling
“Entire gay agenda is build on a faulty, sinking foundation,” says Stephen Bennett
JORDAN, Ontario, June 27, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As Presbyterian minister Tristan Emmanuel handed Chris Kempling a check for $18,000, with a promise for $32,000 more to come before the year is through, he encouraged the beleaguered B.C. school teacher, saying “Chris, I want you to realize that God has not forsaken you. God does not forsake his people.”
With that he pointed out to the large candlelit room, packed with hundreds of Kempling’s many supporters who had each paid $100 for the chance to attend the dinner.
The occasion was the annual Equipping Christians for the Public Square (ECP) fundraising dinner. True to the mission of the ECP, the dollars raised at the annual event don’t go towards ECP itself, but each year are donated to a different individual Christian involved in the public square who is in dire need of help. Last year’s proceeds assisted Christian printer Scott Brockie, who faced and ultimately lost an expensive trial with the Ontario Human Rights Commission for refusing a print job from a gay activist organization.
Chris Kempling, the recipient of this year’s proceeds, recently lost his second appeal with the British Columbia Court of Appeals after having his teaching license suspended for writing letters to the editor outlining his Christian beliefs regarding same-sex marriage.
“I think it’s extremely important that freedom of religion and freedom of speech be argued at the highest court in the land”, said Kempling about his plans to pursue the issue all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. “We can’t let this decision stand or at least go unchallenged that makes it impossible for people of faith to speak their minds in the public square.”
Such persistence in the face of what Emmanuel earlier labeled a “hostile regime” isn’t without cost. Besides the estimated $500,000 in legal fees, Kempling lamented that “It has been hard on my marriage, it’s been hard on my wife and it’s been difficult for my children.”
“But I won’t give up,” he said. “The children of this nation should not be sold a pack of lies, and that’s exactly what the gay lobby is trying to sell them. And I won’t put up with it. And that’s why I refuse to be quiet.”
As he stepped down from the podium after a brief five minute speech, the humble, abstracted and soft-spoken elementary school teacher was given a standing ovation.
Stephen Bennett, the main speaker of the evening and a recovered homosexual now happily married to his wife for twelve years, affirmed Kempling in his Christian beliefs about homosexuality.
“I am one of thousands of men and women who have come out of the gay lifestyle,” he said after recounting the turbulent history of his life. “But the media and other people, gay activists, don’t want you to hear that. You know why? Because the entire gay agenda is build on a faulty sinking foundation. Two pillars: Number one—that you are born gay. And number two—that you can’t change. I am living proof that both of those are faulty and wrong.”
Tristan Emmanuel, Steve Bennett and his wife
Bennett encouraged the ECP and all Christians to continue to fight Bill C-38 and same-sex marriage. “When you start to compromise,” he said “you cannot stop that freight train.”
Emmanuel, the founder and executive director of ECP, encouraged those present to make their voices heard in the public square. “There is no dichotomy between faithfulness to the gospel and faithful civic responsibility,” he said.
“It’s not about thrusting our political agenda on anyone. If Canada is going to be a vibrant democracy and a pluralistic society, that must include Evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox believers.”
JJ
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- U.S. Department of Health Backing Down on Controversial Freedom of Conscience Regulation
- Study Finds Common Infertility Treatments Are Unlikely To Improve Fertility
- Morgentaler Granted Legal "Standing" to Pursue Lawsuit against New Brunswick
- Denver Archbishop Recalls "Progressive" Nuns to Obedience to the Church
- HLI Condemns Death Threats against Church and Affiliate in Ecuador
- Two Years and $100,000 Later: Ezra Levant Complaint Dismissed by Human Rights Commission
- Quebec Mayor Vows to Continue City Hall Prayer Despite Legal Threats
- Canadian Crossroads Walkers Kick off Trek from Toronto to Ottawa
- BC Government Moves toward All-Day Kindergarten for 3-5 Year-Olds
- Nude Dance at Club by Underage Girl ruled "Artistic" 1st Amendment Expression
- Study Confirms Abortion Increases Risk of Depression
- Canada's Abortion Militants Reiterate Condemnation of Unborn Victims of Crime Bill
- KofC Convention Adopts Resolutions Challenging Catholic Politicians on Abortion, Marriage
- Abortion, Condoms Heavily Emphasized at UN AIDS Conference in Mexico City
- Obama Promises "Change" for America One Homosexual Adoption at a Time
- Supreme Knight of Columbus Calls for Real "Change" on Abortion and Catholic Revolt against Obama Nation
Most Read this Week
- House Speaker Pelosi Vows to Kill Defense of Marriage Act and Still Receive Communion
- Nude Dance at Club by Underage Girl ruled "Artistic" 1st Amendment Expression
- Death Threats Received by Archbishop and Human Life International Leader in Ecuador for Opposing "Abortionist" Constitution
- Radio Hall of Fame will not Bow to Homosexual Pressure to Dump Dobson
- D.C. State Board of Education Approves New Restrictive Homeschool Regulations
- Foremost UK Gay Activist Admits there is No Gay Gene
- Immodest Dress in the Church: Like Frogs in Boiling Water
- Uganda First Lady Decries Increase in Risky Sexual Behavior while West Threatens Pulling Funding over Ugandan "Homophobia"
- Chaos at Canterbury: Rowan Williams has "Betrayed" Conservatives
- Reality Says Cohabitation a Disaster for Marriage but Poll Shows Public Believes Otherwise
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.