With the passage of legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in Canada and the inclusion of sexual orientation in the "hate propaganda" sections of the Criminal Code of Canada, assurances were made by the federal government that those opposed to the legislation on religious grounds would not face recrimination. This assurance was questioned by many and this questioning appears to be justified with recent human rights complaints.
When same-sex marriage was legalized, marriage commissioners across the country raised questions about their obligations under the new legislation. The province of Saskatchewan has taken a particularly harsh stance, stating that all commissioners must either be willing to perform same-sex marriages or resign. Instead, Orville Nichols and two other commissioners filed a human rights complaint against the province. Nichols likewise faces a human rights complaint after he refused to marry a same-sex couple in May.
An Alberta pastor, Stephen Boissoin, also faces a complaint filed by an assistant professor of the University of Calgary and gay-rights advocate, Darren Lund. The complaint centres on Boissoin's letter to the editor published in the Red Deer Advocate in June 2002. The initial complaint was dismissed by the Alberta Human Rights Commission, but it has been appealed. The date of the hearing has not been set but is expected shortly. For more details, including copies of Boissoin's original letter and decisions but the Human Rights Commission, click here.
Bishop Fred Henry from Calgary also faced similar action for a pastoral letter sent to his Catholic constituency, protesting the same-sex marriage legislation. This complaint was dropped in late August when the complainant, Norm Greenfield, admitted that his complaints were intended primarily to attract media attention.
Pray that Christians in Canada will be free to voice their position on ethical issues without the threat of legal action. Pray that the federal and provincial governments will pass and enforce legislation protecting religious rights. Pray for these and others facing complaints for raising their voice on ethical issues.
In order to equip Christians in Canada concerning this vital issue, The Voice of the Martyrs is offering for sale one of the most thorough investigations into the biblical teaching on the subject on homosexuality entitled, "The Bible and Homosexual Practice." You can order it online through our online catalog.
