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VANCOUVER, October 22, 2002 (LSN.ca) – A human rights complaint against a Canadian Evangelical Pastor of over 50 years has been dismissed after a year of hearings on the matter.  Reverend Ken Campbell, a frequent speaker at pro-life events, was previously acquitted of the same complaint before the Ontario Human Rights Commission. The BC Human Rights Tribunal dismissed the complaint against Rev. Campbell’s full-page ad in the Globe and Mail (Apr. 18, ‘98) protesting Supreme Court’s decision in Vriend, and calling for restraints on militant homosexual agenda “to make the world their closet”.  In making his ruling, Tribunal Member Tom W. Patch said, “The essence of Mr. Campbell’s defence is that the publication… is an expression of his Charter-protected rights to express his religious beliefs; that is, a finding of discrimination would impair both his freedom of expression and his freedom of religion.”  Patch found that the “Complainant has not established that the advertisement indicated discrimination or an intention to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.”  Rev. Campbell commented on the ruling saying, “This is an historic, precedent-setting ruling which is a triumph for freedom of expression and freedom of religion in Canada.”  See the full ruling online at:  https://www.bchrt.gov.bc.ca/2002_bchrt_35.htm

See related LifeSite coverage:  CANADIAN PASTOR FACING SECOND TRIBUNAL ON HOMOSEXUAL AD https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/dec/01121101.html RIGHTS TRIBUNAL RULES PRO-FAMILY AD DIDN’T DISCRIMINATE https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2000/apr/00041303.html