Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Canadian minister To Catholic Bishops: ‘You’re not allowed to do that anymore!’
From: LifeSiteNews.com
Catholic schools will no longer be allowed to teach the Catechism’s doctrine that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered,” says a cabinet minister in Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s government.
As politicians debated a bill that would force Catholic schools to launch gay clubs on March 29th, Member of Provincial Parliament Glen Murray (Toronto Centre) lashed out against Ontario’s bishops over Catholic teaching on homosexuality.
“I have to say to the bishops: ‘You’re not allowed to do that anymore,’” said Murray, an open homosexual who serves as McGuinty’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, according to the Hansard transcript.
“I’m not allowed to say to the Catholics—nor should I—or to other Christians or Muslims or Jews, that because of your faith you’re intrinsically disordered,” he continued.
“I would never say to you that anything that goes on in your family with the person you love—can you imagine me describing a husband-and-wife relationship as inherently depraved?” he added.
Suresh Dominic of Campaign Life Catholics said Murray’s comments “amount to a declaration of war against the Catholic Church and all people who support traditional moral values.”
“We’ve been saying all along that McGuinty wants to dictate what the Church can teach in its schools and here it is straight from the government’s mouth,” Dominic added.
Murray made the comments in a debate on Bill 13, known as the Accepting Schools Act, which seeks to impose tougher consequences, including expulsion, for “bullying and hate-motivated actions,“ but has been largely framed around the issue of homosexuality.
The bill requires all schools, including the publicly-funded Catholic schools, to start clubs for homosexual students, which can be called “gay-straight alliance or another name.”
Over 2,000 parents and concerned citizens rallied outside Queen’s Park last Thursday calling for the bill’s defeat.
Pro-family advocates charge that gay-straight alliances encourage the normalization and affirmation of the homosexual lifestyle, and promote homosexual activism by tying youth into a cross-continent network of activists.
And Ontario’s Catholic bishops have opposed the controversial clubs, saying they encourage early self-identification as homosexual, and have instead begun setting up a network of clubs under the name “Respecting Differences”.
The anti-bullying bill follows a year-long campaign to force gay-straight alliances on the Catholic schools, but activists have nevertheless been dissatisfied, charging that the bill stops short of forcing the GSA name.
As a result, Ontario’s New Democratic Party has promised an amendment that would require schools to use the name “gay-straight alliance.”
Despite Murray’s statement that the bishops are “not allowed” to teach Catholic teaching on homosexuality, in the same speech at the legislature he said: “There’s no one here that’s suggesting that we shouldn’t teach a Catholic perspective in our schools.”
“It is about celebrating diversity. It isn’t about taking Catholic teaching out of Catholic schools,” he continued.
“It’s about putting life-affirming, positive images and stories around gay and lesbian children, Muslim children, kids and women of all shapes.”
Murray’s comments are the most clear public statement from the government thus far that it intends to forbid Catholic teaching on homosexuality in the Catholic schools. The right of Ontario’s Catholic schools to receive public funding while imparting the Catholic faith is guaranteed under Canada’s Constitution.
In January 2010, a Ministry of Education spokeswoman had refused to answer direct questions from LifeSiteNews as to whether the government’s “equity and inclusive education strategy” would be used to forbid the controversial Catholic teaching.
In April 2011, another Ministry spokesperson said the mandatory homosexual clubs could not help students to “reform their sexuality.”
In the fall, former Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne said the education system is the government’s “single most important” avenue to tackle “homophobia.” She said she was “very disappointed” by the refusal of Catholic school boards’ to allow gay-straight alliances but that she expects the boards “will all come around.”
Current Minister of Education Laurel Broten has labeled opponents Bill 13’s pro-family opponents as “homophobic.”
In December, Murray said that by 2013 all prospective teachers in the province, both for the Catholic and public school boards, will be required to undergo focused training in “sexual orientation” and “gender diversity.”
Premier Dalton McGuinty, who identifies himself as a Catholic, has said that he aims to change the province’s “attitudes” on homosexuality, noting it’s a process that “should begin in the home.”
LifeSiteNews.com did not hear back from Glen Murray by press time.
Catholic schools will no longer be allowed to teach the Catechism’s doctrine that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered,” says a cabinet minister in Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s government.
As politicians debated a bill that would force Catholic schools to launch gay clubs on March 29th, Member of Provincial Parliament Glen Murray (Toronto Centre) lashed out against Ontario’s bishops over Catholic teaching on homosexuality.
“I’m not allowed to say to the Catholics—nor should I—or to other Christians or Muslims or Jews, that because of your faith you’re intrinsically disordered,” he continued.
“I would never say to you that anything that goes on in your family with the person you love—can you imagine me describing a husband-and-wife relationship as inherently depraved?” he added.
Suresh Dominic of Campaign Life Catholics said Murray’s comments “amount to a declaration of war against the Catholic Church and all people who support traditional moral values.”
“We’ve been saying all along that McGuinty wants to dictate what the Church can teach in its schools and here it is straight from the government’s mouth,” Dominic added.
Murray made the comments in a debate on Bill 13, known as the Accepting Schools Act, which seeks to impose tougher consequences, including expulsion, for “bullying and hate-motivated actions,“ but has been largely framed around the issue of homosexuality.
The bill requires all schools, including the publicly-funded Catholic schools, to start clubs for homosexual students, which can be called “gay-straight alliance or another name.”
Over 2,000 parents and concerned citizens rallied outside Queen’s Park last Thursday calling for the bill’s defeat.
Pro-family advocates charge that gay-straight alliances encourage the normalization and affirmation of the homosexual lifestyle, and promote homosexual activism by tying youth into a cross-continent network of activists.
And Ontario’s Catholic bishops have opposed the controversial clubs, saying they encourage early self-identification as homosexual, and have instead begun setting up a network of clubs under the name “Respecting Differences”.
The anti-bullying bill follows a year-long campaign to force gay-straight alliances on the Catholic schools, but activists have nevertheless been dissatisfied, charging that the bill stops short of forcing the GSA name.
As a result, Ontario’s New Democratic Party has promised an amendment that would require schools to use the name “gay-straight alliance.”
Despite Murray’s statement that the bishops are “not allowed” to teach Catholic teaching on homosexuality, in the same speech at the legislature he said: “There’s no one here that’s suggesting that we shouldn’t teach a Catholic perspective in our schools.”
“It is about celebrating diversity. It isn’t about taking Catholic teaching out of Catholic schools,” he continued.
“It’s about putting life-affirming, positive images and stories around gay and lesbian children, Muslim children, kids and women of all shapes.”
Murray’s comments are the most clear public statement from the government thus far that it intends to forbid Catholic teaching on homosexuality in the Catholic schools. The right of Ontario’s Catholic schools to receive public funding while imparting the Catholic faith is guaranteed under Canada’s Constitution.
In January 2010, a Ministry of Education spokeswoman had refused to answer direct questions from LifeSiteNews as to whether the government’s “equity and inclusive education strategy” would be used to forbid the controversial Catholic teaching.
In April 2011, another Ministry spokesperson said the mandatory homosexual clubs could not help students to “reform their sexuality.”
In the fall, former Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne said the education system is the government’s “single most important” avenue to tackle “homophobia.” She said she was “very disappointed” by the refusal of Catholic school boards’ to allow gay-straight alliances but that she expects the boards “will all come around.”
Current Minister of Education Laurel Broten has labeled opponents Bill 13’s pro-family opponents as “homophobic.”
In December, Murray said that by 2013 all prospective teachers in the province, both for the Catholic and public school boards, will be required to undergo focused training in “sexual orientation” and “gender diversity.”
Premier Dalton McGuinty, who identifies himself as a Catholic, has said that he aims to change the province’s “attitudes” on homosexuality, noting it’s a process that “should begin in the home.”
LifeSiteNews.com did not hear back from Glen Murray by press time.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Harper says 'Islamicism' biggest threat to Canada
FROM: CBC News
In an exclusive interview with CBC News, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the biggest security threat to Canada a decade after 9/11 is Islamic terrorism.
In a wide-ranging interview with CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge that will air in its entirety on The National Thursday night, Harper says Canada is safer than it was on Sept. 11, 2001, when al-Qaeda attacked the U.S., but that "the major threat is still Islamicism."
"There are other threats out there, but that is the one that I can tell you occupies the security apparatus most regularly in terms of actual terrorist threats," Harper said.
Harper cautioned that terrorist threats can "come out of the blue" from a different source, such as the recent Norway attacks, where a lone gunman who hated Muslims killed 77 people.
But Harper said terrorism by Islamic radicals is still the top threat, though a "diffuse" one.
"When people think of Islamic terrorism, they think of Afghanistan, or maybe they think of some place in the Middle East, but the truth is that threat exists all over the world," he said, citing domestic terrorism in Nigeria.
The prime minister said home-grown Islamic radicals in Canada are "also something that we keep an eye on."
In an exclusive interview with CBC News, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the biggest security threat to Canada a decade after 9/11 is Islamic terrorism.
In a wide-ranging interview with CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge that will air in its entirety on The National Thursday night, Harper says Canada is safer than it was on Sept. 11, 2001, when al-Qaeda attacked the U.S., but that "the major threat is still Islamicism."
"There are other threats out there, but that is the one that I can tell you occupies the security apparatus most regularly in terms of actual terrorist threats," Harper said.
Harper cautioned that terrorist threats can "come out of the blue" from a different source, such as the recent Norway attacks, where a lone gunman who hated Muslims killed 77 people.
But Harper said terrorism by Islamic radicals is still the top threat, though a "diffuse" one.
"When people think of Islamic terrorism, they think of Afghanistan, or maybe they think of some place in the Middle East, but the truth is that threat exists all over the world," he said, citing domestic terrorism in Nigeria.
The prime minister said home-grown Islamic radicals in Canada are "also something that we keep an eye on."
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Ontario AG probes hate complaint about imam's lecture
FROM: CTV News
Ontario's attorney general says he's looking into a complaint that a religious scholar told a Toronto gathering that homosexuals caught in the act should be executed under Islamic law.
Attorney General Chris Bentley says there is no place for hate speech against any group in Ontario -- including the LGBTQ community.
Bentley says he has referred the issue to the province's chief prosecutor and Toronto police, and they will decide if any charges should be laid.
Egale Canada, a human rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people, sent an open letter to Bentley after reports that Jamaican-Canadian Imam Bilal Philips made homophobic comments at a weekend convention in Toronto.
The group cited reports that during his lecture, Philips reiterated his views that "homosexuals should be executed if they are caught in the act."
Egale executive director Helen Kennedy says such language is "extremely disturbing" and may contravene Canadian hate speech laws.
"Homophobic and transphobic bullying is rampant in Canada schools, and we continue to see disturbingly high suicide rates among LGBT youth," Kennedy wrote.
"As such, it is crucial that the promotion and legitimizing of hatred against the LGBT community not be permitted to continue."
Ontario's attorney general says he's looking into a complaint that a religious scholar told a Toronto gathering that homosexuals caught in the act should be executed under Islamic law.
Attorney General Chris Bentley says there is no place for hate speech against any group in Ontario -- including the LGBTQ community.
Bentley says he has referred the issue to the province's chief prosecutor and Toronto police, and they will decide if any charges should be laid.
Egale Canada, a human rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people, sent an open letter to Bentley after reports that Jamaican-Canadian Imam Bilal Philips made homophobic comments at a weekend convention in Toronto.
The group cited reports that during his lecture, Philips reiterated his views that "homosexuals should be executed if they are caught in the act."
Egale executive director Helen Kennedy says such language is "extremely disturbing" and may contravene Canadian hate speech laws.
"Homophobic and transphobic bullying is rampant in Canada schools, and we continue to see disturbingly high suicide rates among LGBT youth," Kennedy wrote.
"As such, it is crucial that the promotion and legitimizing of hatred against the LGBT community not be permitted to continue."
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Canada Is Ready for Her Star Turn
From: American Thinker
The nation which Canadian subject (and conservative author, columnist and radio and TV commentator) Mark Steyn calls the "Deranged Dominion" just elected a Conservative Party government may now be about to raise its game to the next level.
It should. The fact is that, for sixty-six years, Canada has punched below its weight in world affairs. It was not always so.
Winston Churchill, in Britain's darkest hour -- when the UK faced Hitler alone -- told Parliament and the British people that the overseas dominions would come to the aid of the mother country. He meant Canada (which Churchill had visited), as well as New Zealand, South Africa (where he had fought and been a POW) and Australia. They did.
By the end of the Second World War, Canada had the third-largest surface navy in the world. The Canadian Army took Juno Beach at Normandy on D-Day. Canada, with a population of only eleven to twelve million, put over 1.1 million men under arms, with the world's fourth largest air force. Some 45,000 Canadians died.
What? Canada -- today's pacifist, multicultural playground, refuge of American draft-dodgers during the Vietnam War -- was once a major military power? Really?
Really. By 1945, Canada's navy even included three aircraft carriers.
I learned these largely-forgotten facts one pleasant evening in the leather-walled confines of the library of Montreal's St. James Club. The club's set of the History of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Second World War was instructive in the extreme.
What happened after 1945 is only too familiar: big government liberalism, a welfare state, pacifism, a heavy dose of white guilt, open immigration and political correctness. The result: by choice and not by necessity, Canada hasn't been a world player since about 1953.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Comedian, Vancouver restaurant ordered to pay for insults against lesbian
Free Speech Is Under Assault In Canada
From: Vancouver Sun:
A Toronto comedian and Vancouver restaurant owner were ordered to pay $22,500 by a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal on Thursday after the standup comic hurled a torrent of sexual insults at a woman and her same-sex partner during a comedy show three years ago.
Amateur standup comedian Guy Earle has been ordered to pay $15,000 to Lorna Pardy, 32, who filed the complaint last year after she and her lesbian partner were taunted at Zesty’s Restaurant on Commercial Drive on May 22, 2007. Restaurant owner Salam Ishmail has been ordered to pay her $7,500.
Earle told The Vancouver Sun Thursday night he will appeal the decision.
Pardy filed a complaint in 2007, claiming she was discriminated against on the basis of her gender and sexual orientation in contravention of the Criminal Code. She said Earle directed homophobic and sexist insults at her when she was a patron and he was the master-of-ceremonies at an open mike comedy show at the restaurant.
In his ruling, tribunal member Murray Geiger-Adams said Earle repeated vulgar language in public and attacked Pardy’s identity and dignity as a woman and a lesbian.
“His attack showed every sign of being calculated to inflict as much damage as possible, in as short a time as possible, on her greatest vulnerabilities,” he wrote in the decision.
Geiger-Adams ordered Earle and Ishmail to pay a total of $22,500 for lost wages and for injury to dignity, feelings and self respect.
Earle’s lawyer Jim Miller had argued during the hearing that his client was entitled to freedom of artistic expression under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Earle had also claimed that the couple heckled him while he was on stage and that Pardy threw a drink in his face.
From: Vancouver Sun:
A Toronto comedian and Vancouver restaurant owner were ordered to pay $22,500 by a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal on Thursday after the standup comic hurled a torrent of sexual insults at a woman and her same-sex partner during a comedy show three years ago.
Amateur standup comedian Guy Earle has been ordered to pay $15,000 to Lorna Pardy, 32, who filed the complaint last year after she and her lesbian partner were taunted at Zesty’s Restaurant on Commercial Drive on May 22, 2007. Restaurant owner Salam Ishmail has been ordered to pay her $7,500.
Earle told The Vancouver Sun Thursday night he will appeal the decision.
Pardy filed a complaint in 2007, claiming she was discriminated against on the basis of her gender and sexual orientation in contravention of the Criminal Code. She said Earle directed homophobic and sexist insults at her when she was a patron and he was the master-of-ceremonies at an open mike comedy show at the restaurant.
In his ruling, tribunal member Murray Geiger-Adams said Earle repeated vulgar language in public and attacked Pardy’s identity and dignity as a woman and a lesbian.
“His attack showed every sign of being calculated to inflict as much damage as possible, in as short a time as possible, on her greatest vulnerabilities,” he wrote in the decision.
Geiger-Adams ordered Earle and Ishmail to pay a total of $22,500 for lost wages and for injury to dignity, feelings and self respect.
Earle’s lawyer Jim Miller had argued during the hearing that his client was entitled to freedom of artistic expression under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Earle had also claimed that the couple heckled him while he was on stage and that Pardy threw a drink in his face.
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