OTTAWA, September 15, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Parliament resumed sitting today, with a full first week including a vote tomorrow on a Canadian Alliance motion regarding the definition of marriage and a vote on homosexual hate-crimes Bill C-250 set for Wednesday September 17.
All pro-family groups are participating in a September 16 blitz of parliamentarians prior to the final vote on homosexual activist Svend Robinson’s hate crimes Bill C-250. The groups are asking for calls to be made to the MPs Ottawa offices encouraging them to vote against the legislation. Most major religious groups in the country have also warned that the bill is a threat to freedom of religion and freedom of speech. In April, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) wrote to the Minister of Justice against C-250 noting that they were troubled by the “possibility that someone who finds the expression of the beliefs of the Catholic Church on the sexual conduct of homosexual persons too blunt or too harsh will invoke the Criminal Code to silence the teaching.” The CCCB moreover dismissed claims by homosexual activists that the bill does not seek to attack religious freedom. “We are aware that the supporters of this Bill suggest that this concern is without legal foundation but, given the challenges to religious freedom in the last few years, we are not willing to rely on these assurances,” said the letter. A recent ruling by a Saskatchewan court found a man guilty of inciting hatred by referencing several Bible verses on homosexuality in a newspaper ad. Commenting on the ruling, Janet Epp Buckingham, Legal Counsel for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, told LifeSite that “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.” In a recent interview with LifeSite, Dr. Mubarak Ali, a Muslim Imam and Director of Operations for the Etobicoke Muslim Community, warned against C-250 saying, it “is a very dangerous bill because it criminalizes speaking out against homosexuality.” Not only religious leaders but also politicians have made dire warnings about the potential harm of C-250. Canadian Alliance Foreign Affairs critic Stockwell Day said C-250 is “insidious, draconian and not worthy of support in a free nation”. Liberal MP Tom Wappel warned, “It is hardly fantastical to worry that an activist judge, armed with the Hon. member for Burnaby—Douglas’ law, could rule at the national level that all opinions troubling to gays are hateful, and none are protected, no matter what the Criminal Code says’”. To Call MPs about C-250 now: The Ottawa phone number of a person’s MP can be obtained by calling 1-800-OCANADA or online: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Language=E For excellent information and practical lobbying guidance on this issue see Calling For Canada at http://www.CallingForCanada.ca NOTE: In addition to the petitions listed in the petitions section, there is an additional one that has been circulated by Campaign Life Coalition. See http://www.lifesite.net/clc/national_news/2003/news_0803_petition.pdf See related LifeSite coverage: CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE ASKS GOVERNMENT TO SCRAP HOMOSEXUAL HATE CRIMES BILL http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/apr/03041702.html COURT AGREES WITH HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL THAT BIBLE = HATE LITERATURE http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/feb/03021001.html PM: Cabinet to vote against Alliance same-sex motion http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030915.wsame0915/BNStory/National/ Liberals won’t rush vote on same-sex marriage http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1063645567036_59054767///?hub=TopStories