OTTAWA, June 29 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Reverend Fred Phelps, a US pastor whose extremist approach against homosexuality is seen by some as being helpful to the homosexual movement, failed to show up for his scheduled protest at the Supreme Court on Monday. According to his daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, the decision not to go was due to a concern that police protection would be inadequate. The Canadian Press reported that nearly 500 homosexualist activists were on hand to mount a counter demonstration. Thirty police officers called in to protect the Americans were left waiting.
The incident marked another occasion for homosexualists to attempt to associate all pro-family activists with the radical tactics of Phelps’s group. Canadian pro-family groups Focus on the Family and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada both condemned the Phelps demonstration. Pro-family groups argue that reasoned debate on homosexuality becomes marred when activists on either side concentrate on persons rather than on behaviour.