A Pastor Silenced
For those who have been following Canada's human rights tribunals and their decisions against Christians who express moral opposition to homosexual activism and same-sex marriage, the name Stephen Boissoin should be familiar to you. I won't go into the whole history of his case, however, the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal recently ordered him to stop talking about homosexuality from the perspective of his evangelical Christian faith. Moreover, the government tribunal ordered him to apologize for his previous expressions on this topic as a Christian, and has prohibited him from criticizing the government process to which he had been subjected.
Admittedly, given the stridency of his letter that brought about the original complaint, as well as the way he was characterized in the mainstream media, I expected a sort of Fred Phelps light.
This impression was wrong.
I realized how wrong it was within seconds of speaking to him last week for the first time.
Stephen struck me as anything but hateful. He came across as gentle, albeit fervent like most evangelicals (although he doesn't admit the label, calling himself a simple Bible Christian). Moreover, he expressed genuinely felt concern for the emotional, spiritual and physical welfare of those who practice the homosexual lifestyle. I think part of the problem was the fact that the theological vocabulary between Catholics and Protestants has evolved differently since the Reformation. So quite often things that are understood or interpreted one way by one, are misinterpreted another way by the other.
However, there is one thing Catholics and evangelicals share besides their faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. And that is a 100 percent conviction rate before Canada's human rights tribunals on Section 13.1 cases. The legal persecution makes no distinction among Christians.
Pete Vere has put up four videos of his half-hour interview with Stephen Boissoin at Catholic Light.
Known as 
Matthew 5:11
Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and while speaking lies, say every evil thing against you because of Me.
Part of the reason for the 100% conviction rate is the accusers dropping charges (so as to avoid precedent) when it looks like they are going to lose. I believe Bishop Fredrick Henry of Calgary had this happen to him as he and his supporters put together a solid defense of his right to defend traditional marriage.
All this doesn't infuriate me because I'm a Christian. As a Christian I know that martyrdom is a test and a gift--a gift that keeps on giving. But as a free CANADIAN I am almost out of my mind with rage. How DARE some jumped up bureaucrats do this to our freedoms of speech and religion?
Americans, be vigiliant. Defend your First Amendment. This could happen to you too. In fact, on university campuses it is.
Americans, be vigiliant. Defend your First Amendment. This could happen to you too. In fact, on university campuses it is.
In New Mexico, one of these "Human Rights Commissions" fined a photog $6600 for refusing to shoot a same-sex commitment ceremony.
In New Jersey, a Methodist church lost tax-exempt status for declining a same-sex commitment ceremony.
In Massachusetts, Catholic Charities shut down its adoption program because it wouldn't place children with same-sex couples.
In San Francisco, the city council issued a condemnation against the Catholic Church for its views on homosexuality, which was upheld as Constitutional by a higher court.
There isn't a doubt in my mind in the next 2-3 years (especially if Obama wins the White House) more prosecution will come down. Churches will be closed and priests, religious, and faithful laity will be fined, jailed, or forced out of work for their beliefs.
Brave new world, indeed.
In San Francisco, the city council issued a condemnation against the Catholic Church for its views on homosexuality, which was upheld as Constitutional by a higher court.
Sometimes, I think California should be
impeached and withdrawn from the union.
Ok, call me a Cali-phobe!