September (Web-only) 2003

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Unclear language adding homosexuals to anti-hate law endangers Christians, say critics
One day after the Canadian Parliament voted down a measure reaffirming marriage "as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others," the House of Commons passed a bill adding sexual orientation to the country's hate-propaganda law.

While Christians of course oppose the promotion of hatred against anyone, including homosexuals, and abhor any calls for violence against gays, many Canadian Christians are worried that yesterday's bill, C-250, limits their freedom to oppose homosexual behavior.

"Bill C-250 has the potential to silence reasonable debate on issues like marriage and school curricula and restrict the legitimate expression of moral and religious views on sexual practices," the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada said in a backgrounder before yesterday's vote. (A press release from the EFC, as well as Focus on the Family Canada, are forthcoming.)

"Canadians who are speaking out against the redefinition of marriage are already being accused of 'hate' speech by homosexual activists," Canada Family Action Coalition executive director Brian Rushfeldt told The Vancouver Sun. "[Under C-250,] the activists will begin to insist on prosecution to silence their critics with criminal sanctions."

The bill passed yesterday by a vote of 143-110, though, as CTV notes, "it's rare for a private member's bill to pass" in the Canadian House.

Though the bill must still pass the Canadian Senate and be given royal assent, The Globe and Mail of Toronto suggests that one of the first targets under the bill is Topeka, Kansas, homophobe Fred Phelps. He's someone who Christianity Today and 99.99 percent of American evangelicals believe is promoting ...