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Pastor Accused of "Hate Speech" Defends Himself Before Human Rights Commission

"I do not hate the homosexual. I hate the practice," Boissoin tells Commission

By Elizabeth O'Brien

CALGARY, July 17, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In the first of a three-day hearing on Monday, Rev Stephen Boissoin, the young pastor from Red Deer who was accused of "hate-mongering", held his ground on the issue of homosexuality.

Boissoin's 2002 letter to the Red Deer Advocate warned about dangers of the "militant homosexual agenda". Darren Lund, education professor at the University of Calgary, filed a complaint of "hate-mongering" with the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission (AHRCC). Lund believed that the letter encouraged violence against homosexuals, such as the case of a young homosexual man who was beaten up two weeks after the letter was published.

In the AHRC hearing yesterday, Boissoin testified that his letter was intended to "create spirited debate in the community," the Globe and Mail reports.

"My opinion then and now is that a man having a romantic love with another man or a woman having romantic love with another woman is wrong," told a panel of the AHRC.

"I do not hate the homosexual. I hate the practice," he distinguished, explaining that homosexual behaviour should not be portrayed as a good thing in front of children.

"I do not speak for God. I felt at peace under God in writing the letter," he said.

Boissoin, who has been under fire for five years, explained in a past interview with LifeSiteNews.com that a number of co-workers support him. He said, "they've worked with me, and they've seen my devotion to teens, bi-sexual and homosexual alike, and they're hurt that I can be fined, and potentially, if I don't pay these fines, I can be imprisoned."
 
Appealing to Alberta Premier Stelmach in a press release, Executive Director of the Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC) Brian Rushfeldt said, "The ultimate of freedom of press and speech is seen in the letters to editor section. Does the Alberta Human Rights Commission and one homosexual activist now feel they may exercise their free speech to stop citizens' letters to newspapers? And does this mean newspapers must stop printing their readers' letters of support or objection on public matters?"

CFAC is also concerned because the hearing is taking place before one lawyer who is acting as "judge, jury and executioner" in one.

Rushfeldt told LifeSiteNews.com, "The Human Rights Commission is so narrow in the process it operates under, that it is dangerous. I didn't agree with some of the language Boissoin used, but if you can't have free speech in the 'letter to the editor' section, then we don't have free speech at all. This whole situation could undermine the freedom of the press as well." He continued, "That is the danger of one person ruling in this kind of case. If it goes the wrong way it is dangerous to the freedom of speech and freedom of press section of the nation's charter."

The attention-grabbing case has been called "pivotal" in the homosexual rights debate as an example of "freedom of speech" and "hate speech" coming head to head. As Boissoin's lawyer Gerald Chipeur stated in the Calgary Herald, "It's going to be a very significant case, probably the most significant constitutional case involving human rights legislation that has ever been considered in Alberta." As Chipeur noted, if Boissoin is punished, any further political debate could be silenced.

Chipeur's office told LifeSiteNews.com that it will give comment this Friday when the hearing has wrapped up.

Read previous LifeSiteNews coverage:

Christian Pastor Hauled Before Human Rights Tribunal For Letter on Homosexuality
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/sep/05090204.html

Pastor Facing Gay "Hate Speech" Tribunal Allowed to Publish Prof.'s Complaint
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06050807.html

Growing Support for Alberta Pastor Facing Human Rights Hearing Over Letters Against Homosexuality
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/sep/05091407.html

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