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Canada

• Marriage Commissioner Appealing Human Rights Ruling

  On June 18, Orville Nichols (71), a marriage commissioner found guilty under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code of discriminating against a gay couple whom he refused to marry three years ago (click here for more details) announced his plan to appeal the May 23 ruling. He needs to raise a minimum of $5000 for this legal battle. If you are interested in supporting him as he stands up for his faith in this way, visit orvillesk.googlepages.com.

• Albertan Pastor Fined and Censored for Violating Human Rights in Canada

  In late November, the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC) ruled that Pastor Stephen Boissoin and the Concerned Christian Coalition (CCC) violated Alberta's human rights law by publishing a letter in a local newspaper that was "likely to expose homosexuals to hatred or contempt because of their sexual preference" (click here for more information). On May 30, in the penalty phase of the proceedings, the AHRC ruled that Boissoin and CCC must pay damages equivalent to $7,000 as a result of the tribunal's decision to side with the complainant, homosexual activist Darren Lund (to view the full ruling, click here).

  The ruling also ordered Boissoin and CCC to cease publishing "disparaging remarks" about homosexuals in the future in newspapers, by email, on the radio, in public speeches, or on the internet. Furthermore, Boissoin was ordered to publicly apologize to Lund in a local newspaper statement.

  Boissoin has publicly stated that he "will never offer an apology" and plans to appeal the ruling. If you are interested in knowing how you can support him at this time, visit http://www.stephenboissoin.com/.

  In response to the ruling, Chief Executive Officer of The Voice of the Martyrs, Glenn Penner, said, "Is it the same to make disparaging remarks about homosexuals and homosexuality? I suspect this ruling would combine the two. Hence, Mr. Boissoin is effectively muzzled for the rest of his life from ever expressing his biblically-based views on homosexuality. In what is reminiscent of Soviet show trials, he is also being forced to publicly apologize for a crime he claims never to have committed. How far has freedom fallen in this country?"

• Marriage Commissioner Fined for Refusing to Marry Gays in Saskatchewan

  On May 23, a Saskatchewan human rights tribunal ruled that 71-year-old marriage commissioner Orville Nichols was guilty under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code of discriminating against a gay couple whom he refused to marry three years ago. The tribunal ruling stated that Nichols had contravened a section of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and that his refusal based on religious belief conflicted with his duties as a public officer. Nichols has expressed his disappointment in the decision, which he sees as a denial of his religious rights. He is considering an appeal depending on the level of financial and moral support he receives from the public.

  Pray for Nichols to have the peace and grace of Christ in the midst of opposition for his Christian beliefs (John 14:27).

• Canadian Christian Organization Appealing Human Rights Ruling

  Christian Horizons, an evangelical Christian organization, is appealing part of the Ontario Human Rights Commission's recent ruling which stated that it violated the rights of a former worker, Connie Heintz (39), by terminating her employment when she revealed that she was a lesbian in 2000 (click here for more details). The ruling ordered Christian Horizons to compensate Heintz $23,000 in lost wages and to stop requiring its staff to sign an explicitly Christian morality code. Christian Horizons stated that it will no longer require employees to sign the code but plans to appeal the remainder of the tribunal's order. Opposition political parties have called on the province to consider pulling funding from the group, claiming that it is unjustly imposing its beliefs on its employees.

• Human Rights Tribunal Ruling Raises Tough Questions in Canada In a ruling released last week, The Ontario Human Rights Commission declared that Christian Horizons, an evangelical Christian organization, was wrong to make its employees sign a morality pledge as a condition of employment. The ruling stems from a complaint brought by Connie Heintz (39), who willingly signed Christian Horizons' "lifestyle and morality" employee code when she joined the organization. In 2000, however, she made it known to the organization that she was a lesbian, leading to her loss of employment with Christian Horizons.

  Contrary to what many are claiming, the Human Rights Tribunal ruled against Christian Horizons not on the grounds that the agency receives virtually all of its funding from the Ontario government but because Christian Horizons' primary mission is to serve the public need for group homes for people with developmental difficulties. As such, the tribunal ruled that there was no need for the staff to sign a morality code that is explicitly Christian.

  Pray for the leadership of Christian Horizons as they consider appealing this ruling. Pray for other Christian organizations who continue to set morality standards for their staff in light of their Christian faith.

• Stephen Boissoin Found to Have Violated Human Rights

  On November 30, the Alberta Human Rights Commission ruled that Stephen Boissoin and the Concerned Christian Coalition violated Alberta's human rights law in a letter published in the Red Deer Advocate in 2002. The ruling states that the letter was "likely to expose homosexuals to hatred or contempt because of their sexual preference." Click here for the full text of the decision. This decision is a troubling one in that the provincial human rights panel ruled that the right to be protected from hatred or contempt trumps the right to freely speak ones religious or political opinion.

• Canadian Marriage Commissioner Facing Human Rights Tribunal

  A marriage commissioner in Regina, Saskatchewan is facing a human rights tribunal for refusing to perform the marriage of a homosexual couple in 2005. In April 2005, Orville Nichols (70) was contacted by a man publicly identified only as "M.J." with a request to perform a marriage ceremony. When Nichols, a devout Baptist, found out M.J. was planning to marry another man, he informed him that he could not perform the marriage because it went against his religious beliefs. Nichols provided the name of another commissioner who performed the marriage. However, M.J. claims to have experienced "sleepless nights and anxiety" because of Nichols' refusal and filed a human rights complaint against him.

  During the human rights tribunal hearing on February 1, a lawyer for Saskatchewan's attorney general argued that refusing to perform a marriage on religious grounds goes against the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Nichols' lawyer, Mike Megaw, countered that the tribunal was facing the "clashing of rights" between same-sex couples wanting to marry and the individual's freedom of religion and contended that both deserve to be treated equally.

  After the province legalized same-sex marriages in November 2004, the Saskatchewan Department of Justice said it would remove any marriage commissioners who refuse to perform same-sex marriages. However, the government is waiting for the results of this tribunal before acting on that decision.

  "It is worth noting," said Glenn Penner, CEO of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, "that marriage commissioners are licensed by their provincial governments and not employed or paid by the government. Therefore, they should not be forced by the government to perform marriage ceremonies contrary to their religious beliefs. The Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that clergy cannot be compelled to perform marriages contrary to their religious beliefs. This same freedom should apply to licensed marriage commissioners. Interestingly enough, in the past, marriage commissioners could refuse to officiate at weddings that violated their religious convictions. All of that has changed since same-sex couples have been given the right to marry in Canada. For some reason, sexual orientation is being viewed by many as a more fundamental right than religious belief. This is a troubling development."

  Pray that the religious rights of Orville Nichols will be recognized. Pray that Christians in Canada will echo Peter's sentiment and determine to obey God regardless of what man says (Acts 5:29).

  Several similar situations have arisen in Canada in recent years. In response, The Voice of the Martyrs Canada has produced a 32-minute DVD entitled, "Faith Under Fire - Canada." Click here to order your copy today. A preview of the video is available on VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.

• Alberta Bill on Same-Sex Marriage Delayed

  Ted Morton

  A private-members bill died on May 9 as time ran out in the present sitting of the provincial legislature of Alberta. The bill centred on two areas of concern.  It would have given marriage commissioners the right to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if it violated their beliefs.  It also would have given students the right to opt out of class lessons on same-sex issues and protected teachers from being forced to teach gay literature. To view the proposed bill, go to click here. 

  Speaking to CHQR news (a Calgary radio station), Foothills-Rocky View MLA Ted Morton, blamed the delay on filibustering by the opposition parties and vowed to reintroduce the bill when the legislature resumes after its summer break.

  Pray that this bill will be reintroduced and passed in the next sitting of the Alberta legislature and that it will set a precedent for the rest of the country.

• Saskatchewan Court of Appeal Overturns Human Rights Ruling

  On April 13, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal ruled that Hugh Owens did not violate the province's human rights code when he placed a newspaper ad in Saskatoon's Star-Phoenix protesting a 1997 celebration of gay pride week.  Initially Owens was found by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to have promoted hatred; a decision upheld by a 2002 court ruling. On Thursday, the Court of Appeal declared that "although bluntly presented and doubtless upsetting to many," the ad did not constitute hate speech under Canadian law.  The Court of Appeal also said that Courts should exercise care when dealing with foundational religious writings.

  A concern in the court's ruling, however, is a caveat suggesting that if the ad was published today rather than in 1997, the ruling may have been different, since homosexual rights were less fixed in law then.  In his April 17 weblog, VOMC spokesman, Glenn Penner said, "This is a troubling caveat.  Whether you agree with his methods or not, we must state unequivocally that Mr. Owens is no less entitled to express his religious beliefs today than in 1997, public opinion and legislation notwithstanding.  Just because a belief is deemed less established today than in the past does not mean that it is less worthy of being protected.  Indeed, the opposite is the case.  Now, more than ever, it is the rights of those who would express dissenting opinions in our society that need protection." To read Glenn's full weblog, click here.

  Thank God that the religious rights of Hugh Owens have, at least in part, been recognized by the Court of Appeal. Pray that the government will continue to respect the rights of all citizens to express their religious beliefs. Pray that the Lord will give government and spiritual leaders in Canada the wisdom they need to guide the country through this political landmine.

• Canadians Opposed to Homosexuality Face Human Rights Tribunals

  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.