Recently Posted
Items:
BC
Religious
Leaders Approve Statements Regarding Education
Faith leaders in the Greater
Vancvouver area have made important statements
regarding education. We would urge that other
leaders in British Columbia join in approving one or other of the
following statements and publicizing their endorsement
widely.
[Click here to see
these statements.]
Morgentaler
to be Held as an Inspiration to Young People by Virtue
of His Being Made a Member of the Order of Canada
Already
Henry Morgentaler is in effect being held up as an
example to the youth of Canada. On a webpage of
the Governor General's website a forum question is
asked: "Which member of the Order inspires
you most and why?"
Already some have chosen Morgentaler. On the
other hand, there are some responses that indicate
outrage at his recieving the reward. The
question of the award to Morgentaler is discussed on
the "Mentorship" forum at
http://www.citizenvoices.gg.ca/en/forums/23
.
Unfortunately, it does not seem possible to post to
this forum any more. (July 6, 2008)
[The above
article also posted
on the "Abortion" page of this website.]
A
statement on awarding the Order of Canada to Dr. Henry
Morgentaler from Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan, president of
Lutheran Church–Canada
July
2, 2008
"Awarding the Order of Canada to Dr. Henry
Morgentaler whose actions in the name of 'health' and
'choice' are responsible for the slaughter of more
than 100,000 unborn children each year is an insult to
Canada and all who respect the sanctity of life.
"It is a sad irony that the Order of Canada
was presented to Senator Romeo D'Allaire for his noble
work in preventing the deaths of some 20,000 people in
Rwanda amidst a genocide of more than a million, yet
the one whose life's work has resulted in deaths of
hundreds of thousands of unborn children is given the
same recognition.
"We believe all life is a gift from God and as
a country our citizens should recognize and celebrate
those whose exemplary efforts reflect the value of
life for Canadians and peoples of the
world." [More]
Press Release [from
Canada Family Action Coalition]
Toronto, ON
July 3, 2008
For Immediate Release
Formal
Request Filed to Terminate
Henry
Morgentaler’s Appointment to the Order of Canada
On behalf of the 41,000 members of Canada
Family Action Coalition and the hundreds of
thousands of like-minded Canadians, on July
3rd, 2008 CFAC filed a formal request in
accordance with the Paragraph 25(c) of the
Constitution of the Order of Canada for the
Advisory Council to recommend that the Governor
General terminate Henry Morgentaler’s
appointment to the Order of Canada.
[More]
Morgentaler
Order of Canada Protest Set for July 9 in Ottawa
OTTAWA, July 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) –
Campaign Life Coalition is organizing a demonstration
for concerned Canadian citizens to protest the
awarding of the Order of Canada to abortionist Henry
Morgentaler and to seek its revocation.
WHERE: Rideau Hall – official residence of the
Governor General of Canada - 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
WHEN: Wednesday July 9, 2008 from 12:00 noon to
2:00pm.
CONTACT: Paul Lauzon clcottawa@rogers.com
613-729-0379
WHO: People who agree that Henry Morgentaler is an
inappropriate choice for the Order of Canada will be
attendance
An
Important Message from Dr. Chris Kempling
Friends and Colleagues at BCPTL:
On January 28, 2008, I received another
citation from the BC College of Teachers. They
have laid 12 new charges against me for "conduct
unbecoming a member". They include:
writing a letter to the editor as the representative
of my political party objecting to the then proposed
same sex marriage law, submitting an essay for
publication on the BCTPL website (which was also
published in the Calgary Herald), submitting an essay
to a family journal in Germany (which they have not
read), for being the "local representative of the
Christian Heritage Party", and for having
"knowledge" that an article written about me
by CHP Leader Ron Gray was published on the party's
website. The list goes on, and is the most
Orwellian document I have ever read. My lawyer
told me that I should expect a very substantial
suspension. I've been subpoenaed for a four day
hearing in late September.
I've decided I've had enough of the College of
Teachers. I'ver resigned my position with the
Quesnel School District to take a job with St. Ann's
Academy in Kamloops. Although the remuneration
is less, it is worth it to me not to have to be a
member of the BCCT. Unfortunately, one side
effect of this decision was that the BC Teacher's
Federation has cancelled my legal aid, so my lawyer
has withdrawn her services. There is a great
deal of legal preparation needed before the hearing,
so I have appealed the BCTF decision to the executive
committee on a technicality. Should that appeal
fail, I've asked Kevin Boonstra of Kuhn and Company to
represent me. I have sufficient funds in my
legal defense fund to cover his costs for the hearing
(but I was hoping to use those funds for my next
Supreme Court appeal). The Lord provided last
time--every cent--and I'm trusting Him for this next
battle, too. Please pray for me as I continue to
take a stand on this very important social issue.
Chris Kempling
[from an e-mail dated June 23, 2008]
Opposition
to Morgentaler's Order is wide and deep and intense
Kelly
MacParland, National Post online (Posted:
July 03, 2008)
At a press
conference following his naming to the Order of
Canada. Dr. Henry Morgentaler acknowledged there
were those who questioned his suitability for the
honour, but quickly dismissed them in a line:
"The negative opinions all come from the usual
suspects: the Catholic Church, fundamentalists,
women opposed to women's rights."
I've been thinking about that statement for some
time, trying to figure out what it is about it
that's so disquieting. [More]
Kelly McParland is Politics Editor of the National
Post
Photo: Dr. Henry Morgentaler/National Post
Statement
from the President of the Evangelical Fellowship of
Canada:
July 1, 2008
Re: Dr. Henry
Morgentaler, Abortion and the Order of Canada
EFC public statement sent to the National
Post on July 1. An edited
version was published July 3, 2008.
In awarding Dr. Henry Morgentaler the Order of
Canada, an honour has been bestowed upon someone who
participates in, promotes and, for many, symbolizes
the moral tragedy of abortion. It is a reminder of the
shameful reality that Canada is one of the few
countries in the world without laws protecting the
most vulnerable among us — unborn children. This
vacuum is not the result of consensus. This is not
about health care but a lack of political leadership
to reasonably address the full breadth of the issue.
[More]
Bruce J. Clemenger, President
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
Canada's Catholic
Bishops United in Opposition to Order of Canada Being
Awarded to Morgentaler
Bishop Wingle - "You, Madame Governor General,
are sworn to uphold the law of this nation, not to
applaud those who flaunt it."
By Tim Waggoner
OTTAWA, ON, July 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) -
Canada's Catholic bishops have followed the lead of
Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto by taking a
unified stance against the Canada Day decision to
promote the nation's most prolific killer of the
unborn, Henry Morgentaler, to the Order of
Canada. Many of Canada's bishops have not only
released statements on the "travesty," but
have requested Prime Minister Harper and the Governor
General to revoke the award.
[More]
Over 2000 Have
Signed "Rescind Order of Canada From Morgentaler"
Petition in First 24 Hours
Some of numerous comments noted here - French version
added tonight
By Steve Jalsevac
July 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The petition calling
for the Morgentaler Order of Canada appointment to be
rescinded, reported yesterday on LifeSiteNews, has
garnered over 2,000 signatures since it was launched
late last night. The list of signers to date and their
varied comments can be seen online at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Morgentaler/index.html
and http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/MorgentalerAmerican/
by clicking on the tab at the top of the page labelled
"signatures".
See yesterday's story:
National Group Launches Petition Calling for
Morgentaler Order of Canada Appointment to be Revoked
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08070317.html
Petition organizer Campaign Life Coalition is strongly
encouraging wide promotion of the petition, nationally
and internationally, to ensure that a very large
number of those opposed to the Morgentaler appointment
will have the opportunity to add the force of their
names to this effort to influence the office of the
Governor General and the Prime Minister.
Campaign Life Coalition has added an additional French
version of the petition this evening that will provide
all Franco Canadians a better opportunity to
participate in the important effort.
CLC has reported their surprise at the number of
signers who have added comments with their names. A
review of the comments indicates a considerabel
outrage among Canadians over this high level
government recognition of Canada's leading abortionist
by the Order of Canada Advisory Council.
Here are the addresses for the different versions of
the petition:
a) Canadian Petition - English:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Morgentaler/
a) Canadian Petition - French:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/MorgentalerRetirez/
b) American and International Petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/MorgentalerAmerican/
Morgentaler
is no hero -- women who don't abort are
by
Naomi Lakritz, Calgary Herald
Friday, July 04, 2008
When I think of a hero, Dr. Henry Morgentaler
does not spring to mind. "Hero" is the
wrong appellation to stick on him.
Terry
Fox, hop-skipping his way down the Trans-Canada
Highway, in that long-ago summer of 1980, is a hero.
Even the dog that barks to alert its sleeping owner
to a fire is more of a hero than Morgentaler is. You
see, heroes save and enhance lives -- they don't
destroy them. Yet, this country's most distinguished
award, the Order of Canada, has gone to a
"hero" whose sole "achievement"
is killi
ng unborn Canadian citizens. [More]
Human Rights
Commission Drops Complaint Against Catholic Magazine
Judicial Review Still Possible
TORONTO, July 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The
Canadian Human Rights Commission has dropped a
complaint by a homosexual activist against Catholic
Insight a Toronto-based national Catholic news
magazine. A year and a half - and many thousands
of dollars in legal fees - after a nine-point human
rights complaint was filed by Edmonton-based
homosexual activist Rob Wells, Catholic Insight has
been informed that the case has been dropped.
However, a judicial review before the Federal Court is
still possible should the complainant pursue that
avenue.
In a letter the Commission noted that it decided
"to dismiss the complaint because the material
(produced by Catholic Insight) is not likely to expose
a person or persons to hatred or contempt based on
sexual orientation." It added that
"the file on this matter has now been
closed."
Wells filed the complaint over the magazine's
allegedly offensive coverage of homosexual activism
and the issues it has affected. According to editor
Father Alphonse de Valk, however, the magazine has
consistently set out the Roman Catholic Church's
position on such questions, making it clear that
persons with same-sex attraction must be accepted with
respect, compassion and sensitivity and every sign of
unjust discrimination in their regard should be
avoided.
"We welcome the Canadian Human Rights
Commission's decision in this matter and were
confident from the outset that we would be
vindicated," said Father de Valk. He added that
his publication not only has the right, but the
responsibility, to report, analyze, comment on, and
criticize where necessary, homosexual activism as it
pertains to important social issues such as the nature
of marriage, adoption rights, the allocation of social
benefits, burdens on the health system caused by
unhealthy behaviours and so on.
"It is chilling to think that a publication
can be hauled before a government tribunal simply for
reporting to interested citizens developments in these
areas of controversy," said Father de Valk.
"This matter underscores once again the necessity
of urgent reform of the Canadian human rights
system." He added that, coupled with a series of
actions launched by a Toronto-based homosexual
activist, Catholic Insight has been unnecessarily
burdened with $20,000 in legal fees to date.
Given the consistently unsuccessful nature of these
homosexual activist attacks upon it, Catholic Insight
will now examine the prospects of launching countering
legal actions against those who have been
unnecessarily harassing and financially burdening the
publication, said Father de Valk.
New Page on This
Website
In the margin to the left, you will notice a link
to a new page of this website. On this page we
are carrying news of the Parents for Democracy in
Education Society, a group with which we have worked
and in which we have reason to have
confidence. To get to this new page, click
here or on the heading in the margin:
"Parents for Democracy in
Education--News."
April and
May-June Issues of BCPTL E-mail Bulletin Published on
This Website
The April and May-June issues of the BC Parents and
Teachers for Life E-Bulletin have now been published
on the "Bulletin"
page of this website.
New Link: to
"The
Schools We Need" website.
In the right-hand column there is a
new link, to a website entitled "The Schools
We Need." We recommend that you take a
look at this site, which is particularly relevant
for British Columbians interested in various
issues related to the education in the province.
Anti-Spanking
Bill Passes Canadian Senate
"No corporal punishment would be allowed, either
by an educator, the mother, the father or someone
acting for them," says sponsor of bill.
By Hilary White
OTTAWA, June 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Liberal
Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette said that the passage
of her anti-spanking bill through the Senate will
"send a signal so that people who use violence in
a repeated way will no longer feel protected."
"It is not to arrest everyone who gives their
child a tap on the arm," she added.
Bill S-209, which will see parents charged with
assault for spanking their children, has passed its
first hurdle and now moves on to the House of Commons.
It has been working its way through committees for
four years and proposes to remove Section 43 of the
Criminal Code that says, "Every schoolteacher,
parent or person standing in the place of a parent is
justified in using force by way of correction toward a
pupil or child, as the case may be, who is under his
care, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable
under the circumstances."
The bill proposes to prohibit a parent using force
to discipline children except in very limited
circumstances. It allows parents, teachers or other
guardians to use "reasonable force other than
corporal punishment, but only in three specific
circumstances: preventing or minimizing harm to the
child or another person; preventing the child from
engaging or continuing to engage in conduct that is of
a criminal nature; preventing the child from engaging
or continuing to engage in excessively offensive or
disruptive behaviour." It rules out the use of
any force such as spanking as a routine disciplinary
measure.
[More]
German
Homeschooling Parents Sentenced to Three Months in
Prison
By Tim Waggoner
June 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The parents of a
homeschooling family in the German state of Hesse have
each been sentenced to three months in prison for the
crime of homeschooling their seven children.
According to a staff attorney for the Home School
Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), the sentence was
issued to Juergen and Rosemarie Dudek after the
federal prosecutor, Herwig Muller, said last year that
he was dissatisfied with the fines the couple had
already paid for homeschooling their children.
As reported by WorldNetDaily (WND), staff attorney
for the Home School Legal Defense Association, Mike
Donnelly, was appalled by the decision.
"Words escape me, it's unconscionable,
incredible, shocking." He then affirmed,
"They will appeal of course." [More]
Abortion
Numbers in England and Wales Break Records Again
By Hilary White
LONDON, June 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) -
Abortions are at record numbers again in Britain, with
a 4 percent rise and ever younger girls having
"terminations" instead of giving birth.
Statistics released today show that 205,598 British
children were killed before birth in 2007, up from
201,173 in England and Wales during 2006.
The number of abortions among young girls also
jumped significantly, with 13-to-15 year olds aborting
at 4.4 per thousand, and under-18s aborting at a rate
of 19.8 per thousand.
These statistics mean that nearly one-quarter of
pregnancies in England and Wales end in abortion.
[More]
A
Deeply Significant Quotation
"It is a poverty to decide that a
child must die so that you may live as you wish."
(Mother Teresa, quotation in a Focus on the Family
advertisement)
The Day
Humanity Became Cheap
David Frum
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Dave Sidaway,
CanWest News Service
On Jan. 28, 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada
released its judgment in the case of R. vs.
Morgentaler, which struck down the abortion
provision in the Criminal Code. As a result,
Canada became the only Western nation with no
abortion law -- a situation that persists to
this day. This week, National Post writers will
be looking at the legacy of R. vs. Morgentaler.
In today's first instalment, David Frum argues
that the decision served to cheapen the value of
human life.
[Click
here to read an excerpt from David Frum's National
Post article]
Pro-Family
Activist Foresees Homosexual Indoctrination
Program for Grades 7 and 8 Students in Ottawa
Valley, Ontario
We
are grateful to Ken O'Day for this alert for
Ottawa Valley, Ontario parents. Ken has
passed on the following, which apparently
indicates how the program is being presented to
parents:
"Public School Homosexual Indoctrination
Jer's Vision: Canada's Youth
Diversity Initiative is
Canada's First national organization to support
and encourage the work of youth to address
discrimination in their schools and communities.
This winter Jer’s Vision will be coming in to
speak with our grade 7 & 8 students about
the Youth Diversity Initiative. Students will be
listening to a presentation on demystifying and
humanizing sexual diversity. This presentation
increases awareness about gay and lesbian
issues, through trained facilitators who share
their knowledge and experience. The program
seeks to break down myths and stereotypes. A
letter will be coming home with students before
the presentation explaining in more detail the
topic and presentation times. 'Jervision' can be
seen at
http://www.jersvision.org/english/
"
Note:
"Jer's Vison" is listed on its website
as "Canada's Youth Diversity
Initiative." Under programs and
services the organization features two
speakers: Jeremy Dias and Shelly
Rabinovich. Among the topics Jeremy Dias
speaks on are "LGBTQ and youth; LGBTQ in
Canada; LGBTQ and visible minority."
Among the topics Shelly Rabinovich speaks on
are: "sizeism; religious
discrimination; "othering" and
marginalizing people (particularly visible
minorities);. . . LGBTQ issues; polyamory; BDSM
as subculture; religious expression; modern
Paganism and Goddess worship;
Neo-Satanism."
Among the "celebrity" endorsers listed
for "Jer's Vision" are Libby Davies,
Heddy Fry, Svend Robinson, and Bill Siskay.
Jer's Vison is a"a proud sponsor" of
the LBGTQ Film Festival of Ottawa and is listed
as hosting the "opening Gala" in
October of 2007 and was to have hosted
"education workshops and a drag show"
"September
4-11, 2007 (uOttawa and Carleton University,
Ottawa)."
Senior
at centre of life-support battle improving
But
. . .[Hospital] still seeking the right to pull plug
Sat Jan 12 2008
By Kevin Rollason
TWO weeks after Samuel Golubchuk's
family went to court to stop doctors from pulling
him off life support last month because he had
minimal brain activity, he showed signs he was
improving neurologically.
A week later, while doctors
still argued to disconnect his ventilator and pull
out his feeding tube, the 84-year-old Golubchuk was
seen by medical staff to be "awake".
But on Friday in court, more than a month after
the battle to keep him alive began, lawyers for the
family and doctors were continuing to argue because
the physicians say they still need to have control
over deciding when to pull the plug.
After court, the family's lawyer, Neil Kravetsky,
said Golubchuk is alive today only because of the
court's intervention. [More]
Democratic
Responsibilities
When Canadians allow fundamental issues of public
policy -- such as abortion, euthanasia, or whether
possession of child pornography should be a crime --
to be decided by courts, rather than by Parliament,
they are shrugging off the perhaps now irksome
burden of self-government. At bottom, democracy is
anti-authoritarian, not because it arrives at
correct, or even principled, conclusions, but
because it imposes on everyone the burden of
thinking and deciding for oneself. How much easier
to allow the nine philosopher-kings on the Supreme
Court of Canada to think and decide for us.
- Ian Hunter
[as quoted on the website
of Ken Epp, MP]
Poll
When a pregnant woman is murdered or assaulted,
the Canadian Criminal Code does not provide for
any charges to be laid in respect of the unborn
child who is injured or dies as a result. Do you
support legislation making it a separate offence
to injure or kill an unborn child during an attack
on the mother?
[Vote
on this on the website of Ken Epp.]
A Time to Speak,
A Time to Listen
[From CitizenLink Nov. 6, 2007]
by Stuart Shepard, managing
editor
My conversation with a protester on
the side of an Indiana country road.
The protesters lined up on the grassy shoulder because
there was no sidewalk on this two-lane road through the
cornfields. They spaced themselves 10 feet or so apart,
apparently in a vain attempt to make it seem like there
were more than the 10 or 15 people who showed up outside
Trader's Point Christian Church. Inside the church, the
daylong Love Won
Out conference had just wrapped up.
Produced by Focus on the Family, the conference shares
hope for people who are unhappy with their homosexuality
and who desire to change. But based on the protest signs
out front, you would never suspect that was the gentle
spirit of Love Won Out.
I flipped on my video camera and walked from protester
to protester to get some shots of the signs they were
holding. One woman held a sign that read, "I love my
lesbian daughter."
She looked like someone I might chat with in line at
the grocery store, so I asked if I could speak with her,
making clear I did not want to start a debate. "I
just want to hear you," I said.
[More]
"Social conservatives move on
to next marriage debate"
By Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press Ottawa
September 27, 2007
[a Canadian Press
report on a conference put on by the Institute
of Marriage and Family Canada]
Read
the Corren Settlement Agreement Yourself
See
for yourself the terms of this agreement.
Click
here to go to a copy of this document on a
British Columbia government website.
BCTL
Request
for
Meeting with
Government Ministers on Parental Consent
for Minors' Health Care Results in
June
21st Meeting with
Attorney-General and Representative of Ministry of
Health
(Unfortunately,
we have since received a letter from the provincial
Attorney General rejecting our request. See
article below.)
On May 16th, B.C. Parents and Teachers for
Life sent a letter to three provincial cabinet
ministers: Shirley Bond, Minister of
Education, George Abbott, Minister of Health, and
Wally Oppal, Attorney-General. regarding the need to
mandate parental consent for health care for minors.
As a result of the provisions of the provincial Infants
Act, as we have pointed out many times as an
example, a fourteen-year-old girl in British
Columbia can have an abortion without her parents'
consent, or counsel, and even without their
knowledge, as a result of a referral by a school
nurse.
In
our May 16th letter we wrote: "We ask
that you, whose ministries have jurisdiction over
health, education, and law, meet with us and with
representatives of other organizations to discuss
the issue of parental consent as it concerns the
health care of minors.
This is a matter that has been ignored for
too long.
We would appreciate it if you would name a
place and time when it would be convenient for you
to have such a meeting.
We would like to inform other concerned
organizations so that we may bring several
representatives of those organizations to the
meeting."
We
were pleased to receive a phone call informing
us that our request for a meeting had been
granted, and on June 21st [2007] representatives of
BCPTL accompanied by representatives of Campaign
Life Coalition BC and REAL Women of BC had a meeting
with one of the cabinet ministers we had asked to
see: Attorney-General Wally Oppal, as well as a
representative of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Craig
Knight. No representative of the
Ministry of Education was there, and, at the time of
writing this article, we have
received from the Education Minister no
acknowledgement of our request. Subscribers to
the BCPTL Bulletin will receive a more detailed
report of the meeting.
British
Columbia Parents and Teachers for Life Written
Presentation for British Columbia Government
Ministers—June 21, 2007
On
the Necessity for Mandated Parental Permission for
Minors’ Health Care
The
report gives a summary of the issue and challenges
provincial government ministers to restore parental
rights in the matter of their minor children's health
care. [Click here
to go to the written form of this presentation.]
British
Columbia
Government Rejects Mandated Parental Permission for
Minors’ Health Care
In
a letter dated September 3, 2007, Attorney General
Wally Oppal made it clear that the government of
British Columbia has no plans to alter the current
situation in which parents have no guarantee of
input into the “health care” provided their
children.
As we have pointed out numerous times, this
means that your fourteen-year-old daughter, if you
have one, could come home having had an abortion as
a result of a referral from her school, without your
consent and even without your knowledge.
The letter from the Attorney General came as a
follow-up to a meeting BCPTL had with him and with a
representative of the Ministry of Health.
[More]
Public
Health Agency of Canada Listed as Partner by
International Day Against Homophobia Group
April
10, 2007
Socially
conservative Canadians may be interested to know that
the website for the "International Day Against
Homophobia" (May 17) lists among "2007
Majors [sic] Partners" the Public Health
Agency of Canada. The same website singles out
as "Fight Against Homophobia Award Nominees"
Members of Parliament who voted in favour of the Civil
Marriage Act.
This
is the act that enabled the official recogition of
homosexual unions as marriages as
"marriages." Check out the
"International Day Against Homophobia" website
and decide for youself if this is something our
government should be supporting.
The Supreme Court of Canada Decision on Pro-Homosexuality Books, & Related Matters
A Layman's Comment on the Above SCC Decision:
[Comment by a layman]
Comment by a Lawyer:
Comment on the Website of CASJAFVA (one of the Intervenors in the "Surrey Books Case"):
See the CASJAFVA website, Editorial for Newsletter #45. See Part 4, "Aftermath" for a suggestion as to how the Surrey School Board could handle the issue.
"Supreme Court Supplants Parents"
Daniel Cere, who teaches Catholic Studies at McGill University, has written a powerful indictment of the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in the matter of pro-homosexual teaching material.
Click here for the article on the Catholic Educators Resource Centre website.
In Def ence
of Marriage
Among
many other articles on our "Marriage"
page, are the following:
We Should Know and Remember How Canadian MPs Voted
on Marriage on December 7, 2006
Sweden
Proposes Moving from Civil Unions to Legalizing
Homosexual 'Marriage'
Tories pushed to call royal commission
on marriage: Social conservatives want Conservatives to 'mend fences' with traditional supporters
Muzzling free speech: Why can't
people speak against same-sex marriage?
Pope slams "dismal" theories on gay
marriage rights
Left Apoplectic Over Dr. Dobson's
Time Platform
Ireland High Court Rules Against
Gay 'Marriage' Citing Harm to Children
Canadian bishop details gov't threat on same-sex marriage
Ottawa , Jun. 09
(LifesiteNews.com/CWN) - In Canadian House of Commons committee hearings on the same-sex marriage Bill C-38 Monday, Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary revealed details of threats leveled against him by government officials for putting forward Church teaching.
Bishop Henry described in detail how he was called by Terry De Marche of Revenue Canada , the country's tax agency, after issuing a pastoral letter that said the media's description of Prime Minister Paul Martin as a "devout Catholic" was inappropriate due to Martin's support for abortion and gay marriage legislation.
Speaking of the conversation he had in June 2004 with De Marche, the director of policy communications in Revenue Canada's Charities Directorate, Bishop Henry said, "He reminded me very forcefully from the beginning that I wasn't to engage in partisan politics, pointing out that my actions were in contravention of the Elections Act and implying that my actions jeopardized my charitable tax status."
After Bishop Henry pointed out that he did not tell anyone how to vote, he recalled that De Marche "then talked about perception and said: 'Some people may perceive.'" To this Bishop Henry responded, "I can't control the perception of all the people in Canada , I have to assume that they can think and think critically and they can evaluate . . . .
The bishop recalls that the conversation ended with this exchange: "He said, 'Well, are you going to take down the pastoral letter from your website?' I said, 'No, why should I take it down from my website?' He didn't answer that either. Then he said, 'Are you planning on doing anything else?' I said, 'I find that question very strange, but no, I'm not contemplating doing anything else.' Then he said, 'I'm going to write a report for my superior. You may hear back from us again in the short term.'"
Bishop Henry noted that other pastors of different faith backgrounds have expressed that they were intimidated by these actions and have thus been "gun shy" on speaking out.
The bishop also mentioned having to defend himself against human rights complaints submitted to the Alberta Human Rights Commission and also the complaints against a Knights of Columbus Hall in BC which refused to allow a lesbian couple to rent the premises for a wedding reception.
. . . .
© Copyright 2005 Domus Enterprises. All rights reserved.
"Why is Same-Sex 'Marriage' a Threat?"
[Read this article on "Family News in Focus."]
A "Statement on the Status of Marriage" by a group of spokespeople from a remarkably wide spectrum of Canadian society was published in The Globe and Mail Jujne 18, 2003, online. To read this statement in full, click here. The "Conclusion" of the statement is given below:
EFC Resources
Read articles on the possible legalization of "same-sex marriage and on Bill C-250 on the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Website.
"Marriage and Legal Recognition of Same-sex Unions:
A Discussion Paper--November 2002"
This discussion paper, to which the response of the public was invited, was published on the website of the Department of Justice: Canada.
[See the Department of Justice site]
Chris
Kempling
(a public-school counsellor who has spoken out)
[Click here for a detailed summary of Chris Kempling's case.]
Chris
BC Parents and Teachers for Life Press Release
on the Dr. Chris Kempling Appreciation Dinner
of October 20, 2007
This press release
will remain posted for some time on our
``Events`` page.
Chris Kempling's Website
Dr. Chris Kempling has his
own website. Check out his article "Sexual Orientation Curricula:
Implications for Educators" on that website.
(Go to "Resource Articles.")
Information About British Columbia Parents and Teachers for Life:
Who are B.C. Parents and Teachers for Life?
We are a group of parents, teachers, and other concerned residents of British Columbia who have a common interest in the education of youth. We seek to promote a positive attitude towards human life and to have schools support universally applicable principles of morality. We recognize the rights of parents as the prime educators of their children. We share with other pro-life organizations a commitment to use only non-violent methods in the pursuit of our objectives.
[See the "About Us" Page, and see the "Membership" page for how to join.]
Our Purposes
[See "Our Purposes" on the "About Us" Page]
A Short History of B.C. Parents and Teachers for Life
[See "A Short History" on the "About Us" Page.]
Contact Us.
We'd like to hear from you. Drop us a line. See our Contact page.
Quotes Worth Considering
"In
a time of universal deceit telling the truth is
a revolutionary act."
- George Orwell
"The most important human endeavor is the
striving for morality in our actions. Our inner
balance, and even our very existence, depends on
it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty
and dignity to our lives."
- attributed to Albert Einstein
"Educators and the teachers' unions must remember that their role is to support parents, not to replace them, as they raise and nurture their children." (Derek Rugusky in "Back to Basics: Put Our Kids First"
in "familyfacts.ca")
“The whole concept of hate crimes is flawed. It sets up special classes of victims afforded a higher level of government protection than others victimized by similar crimes. That violates the concept of equal protection. It politicizes criminal prosecutions.” (an excerpted reaction from Culture and Family Institute Director Robert Knight, who spoke of Senator Kennedy's 1999 statement where he said that not every rape was a hate crime. Kennedy's confused statement seemed to Knight to imply that a rape was only a hate crime when it involved gender bias.) Reference: "Why Isn't Rape a 'Hate Crime?' " on the Culture and Family website.
Abortion
Click
on a title to access an article. These are
only a few of the many articles on our
"Abortion" site.
Michael Coren: Ignoring the most important right of
all
Mother Demands Justice against Abortionist for
Letting Daughter Die As He Was Killing Her Child
Abortion and mental health: The link we cannot ignore
British
Columbia Government Rejects
Mandated Parental Permission for Minors’ Health Care
Pro-Lifer Violently
Assaulted Outside Abortion Clinic, Police Take Time After Repeat 911
Calls
"Abolish
Abortion in Canada" is the Top Canadian Wish, CBC Announces
"I tried twice to abort my baby - but I'm delighted I failed"
BCPTL
Request for a
Meeting with Government Ministers on Parental Consent
for Minors' Health Care Results in Meeting with
Attorney-General and Representative of Ministry of Health June 21, 2007
Presentation
"On the Necessity for Mandated Parental Permission for
Minors’ Health Care"
See many
other
articles on our "Abortion" page.
Professor Claims Significant Link Between Abortion & Breast Cancer
Joel Brind, Ph.D., a Professor of biology and endocrinology, has stated: "The main-stream organs of public health policy and the media have wasted no time in using their power and prestige to bury the truth about the single most avoidable risk factor for breast cancer: induced abortion."
[See the home page on his website.]
If Dr. Brind's claims are correct--and you can judge for yourself by visiting his website--this adds one more reason why we should oppose the present state of affairs where the drastic procedure of abortion may be carried out on minors in British Columbia (and other places) without the parents having the right to advise and counsel their young daughters, let alone having the right to prevent the procedure.
[This posting on the BCPTL website: Jan.. 7, 2002]
From a CNSNews.com article of May 8, 2002:
" . . .more than 98 percent of those women seeking counsel from Planned Parenthood Federation of America ended their pregnancies with abortion in 2000 . . . .."
[Go to the CNSNews site and scroll down to bottom to the title or use search]
Pro-Abortion Leader Fears Debate?
The fact that a prominent BC pro-abortion leader has declared that abortion is beyond debate is significant. Though not a new statement, it is one that bears examining because it representative of the views of some pro-choice leaders.
[See this statement.] The author, in a statement copyrighted by the Pro-Choice Action Network, stated that the right to abortion is not debatable and that the right to choose abortion should not be subject to a vote. The statement is entitled "Why Pro-Choice Supporters Should Not Publicly Debate the Anti-Choice."
"British Columbians are being asked to consider alternate forms of healthcare delivery due to escalating costs. Abortion should be de-insured because women choose to have abortions for personal reasons, not medical reasons. Polls consistently show that the majority of British Columbians (and Canadians) support de-insuring abortions.
"A Coalition of a number of organizations are working together to educate British Columbians on the defunding of abortion."
[From the Campaign Life Coalition website. To find out how you can easily participate in this campaign, click here.]
Lawsuit Filed Against New US Law Barring Discrimination Against Pro-Life Doctors
[More on "Abortion" page of this website]
Click on "Abortion" in the left-hand column to reach our page on abortion, with many other articles.
News &
Views
Click on a
title to access an article. Many more
articles are to found on the News and Views"
Page.
Biased
Abstinence Ed Report Draws Criticism
Bella (an excerpt from a "Plugged In"
Online review)
"Social conservatives move on to
next marriage debate"
"[U.S.] Senate Passes
Dangerous Hate-Crimes Amendment"
Not SoMiraculous
GSAs:
not as innocent as they may seem
"Thousands
cheer gay pride parade"
Playing fast, loose
U.S. Senate passes stem-cell
funding bill
Telus Drops Porn Service After
Complaints Onslaught
Appeals Court Rebuffs ACLU; Boy Scout Jamboree
Will Go On
Renfrew
County
Family Action Council
2006
Ontario
Report
Stem Cells Discovered in Amniotic Fluid, Scientists Announce
Landmark ruling allows children to have three parents
Same-Sex Marriage Setback in Massachusetts
Activist Supreme Court Chief Justice Lectures Canadian Prime Minister on Court Appointments
Swedish Pastor Acquitted of Inciting Hatred Against Homosexuals
Canada Legalizes "Sex Clubs" -- "14 Year Olds Will be Exploited"
Disciplinary Hearing for Firefighters Refusing to Distribute Homosexual Leaflets
Four firefighters are due before a disciplinary hearing over their refusal to hand out leaflets at a gay pride march in Glasgow.
Another five men who are also based at the city's Cowcaddens fire station had their cases considered last month.
All nine will be told later whether the fire brigade plans to take action.
Some of the men were opposed to attending the event on religious grounds while others did not think it was part of their core duties.
However, gay rights campaigners argue that firefighters are public servants who cannot be seen to discriminate.
[Click here to read the whole article on the BBC Website.]
Adult Stem Cells from Human Retina Reproduce and Differentiate Easily
No Problems with Tumor Formation says Researcher
TORONTO/LAUSANNE, October 26, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A stem cell researcher was 'beyond shock' at how easily stem cells taken from eyes reproduced in the lab. "Within seven days, they go from one cell to 7,000 to 10,000 cells," says Brenda Coles of the University of Toronto, lead author of a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers from Toronto and Lausanne, Switzerland discovered that retinal cells were easy to obtain and the results of the tests on mice and chickens offer hope for curing certain types of blindness.
The cells were transplanted into the eyes of mice and embryonic chick eyes. The cells reproduced and were able to survive, migrate, integrate, and differentiate into all seven types of retinal tissue, especially as photoreceptors. The experiment suggests that human retinal stem cells eventually may be valuable in treating human retinal diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
The mice and chick eyes "look perfectly normal," says Coles. The next step of the research will be to see if blind mice can have their sight restored by the stem cell treatment. After more animal tests the research could move on to human testing, but will probably take another decade, the researchers say.
The current tests, published Monday, show promise especially since the animals had no problems with the cells reproducing uncontrollably, a common problem with embryo stem cell treatment. "They didn't take over the eye, or cause any cancerous-type things or sit in inappropriate places," says Coles. "They found their home and responded to the proper signals."
ph
The following is from an article from LifeSite
"Canadian Homosexual Activists on EGALE List-Serve Discuss How to Shut Down LifeSite"
Focus on Family rep says "gay activists want to wipe out any dissenting opinion"
TORONTO, May 11, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The homosexual activist group EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere), which paints itself as a moderate group, has hosted an email discussion on how to shut down LifeSiteNews.com through harassment lawsuits aimed at bankrupting the news service. The discussion comes after LifeSiteNews.com received threatening emails from homosexual activists including those from EGALE list-serve members accusing LifeSiteNews.com of hate propaganda and some suggesting criminal prosecution under Canada's new hate crime law.
LifeSiteNews.com has been forwarded emails from the EGALE list-serve which propose using lawsuit tactics against pro-family groups. One such email says: "I remember hearing years ago that the KKK was brought down by lawsuits that almost wiped it out financially. I wonder why we can't sue Lifesite and family hate groups who spread lies about us- for defamation." The email continues, "Perhaps we just don't have the resources or time to do this. It would be great if we could though, it might actually stop the lies, if one or two hate groups are sued."
LifeSiteNews.com will not be intimidated by such tactics and pro-family groups have responded similarly to the threats.
Derek Rogusky, Vice President of Family Policy and Community Impact for Focus on the Family Canada, after receiving a copy of the above referenced email from EGALE list-serve, said, "The reality is that gay activists want to wipe out any dissenting opinion. It is ironic that those demanding tolerance are not offering tolerance as well."
Gwen Landolt of REAL Women Canada told LifeSiteNews.com, "Homosexual activists are using the law as a tool to intimidate free speech and expression of opinion in Canada. We are not supposed to be a totalitarian state."
[Click here to read the rest of the article on the LifeSite website. For background, read the article below.]
Intimidation from "Gay-Rights" Leaders
The following is an abridgement of a story from LifeSiteNews.ca. It indicates that right after the passage of Bill C-250, it was already being used as an instrument of intimidation:
Toronto, May 3, 2004
(LifeSiteNews.com) - Since the passage into Canadian law last week of the homosexual hate crime Bill C-250, LifeSiteNews.com and other pro-family groups in Canada have been subject to some intimidating communications from homosexual activists. The emails, and ones received over the last few years from other activists bear a similar slant, all suggesting
LifeSiteNews.com, by reporting news on the homosexual issue that balances the mainstream media’s bias, is ‘hateful’ and out of touch with the rest of the world. The tactic is a well known psychological warfare technique known as ‘jamming’.
One email received the day C-250 was passed into law, was sent to homosexual activist leaders in Canada and purposely forwarded to
LifeSiteNews.com, Focus on the Family Canada, and REAL Women Canada. In it . . .[the], Director, External Issues at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered group at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, wrote
"These right winged, conservatives are teaching these same messages to their children for the good of society and for the good of morals and ethics. Let's get this one thing straight to all you Conservative groups - your children's attitudes, if they inherit these beliefs from you, will be in a minority down the road. You are setting them on a dangerous path of intolerance and hate. Stop this path - before the world of tomorrow judges them and, thanks to this bill, prisons or fines them. Crimes of hate against the LBGT community will be treated equally with
anti-semitism, and anti-african canadian hate crimes."
Described years ago by Dr. Charles Socarides in “Thought Reform And The Psychology of Homosexual Advocacy”, jamming used by homosexual advocates seeks to instill doubt in the minds of pro-family leaders as to the correctness in their belief in the abnormality of homosexuality. This is done by oft-repeated but unfounded accusations of hateful speech and un-Christian-like conduct, and the equally unfounded assertion that pro-family positions are held by only an insignificant minority of society.
(see Dr. Socarides work here . . .)
In his article “Selling Homosexuality”, prolific family issues writer Matt Kaufman reveals that “Harvard-trained social scientists Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen, … in the late ‘80s issued a call for gay activists to adopt "carefully calculated public relations propaganda." Kaufman explains that included in that campaign was “jamming”, which he writes “means, simply, smearing anyone who disagrees with their agenda.”
Prominent US columnist Cal Thomas is quoted by the US website, People for the Way, Truth and Life, having said, “Gay-rights groups are experienced intimidators. They feverishly oppose discussion about people who have come out of same-sex relationships and slander those who manage to get through their jamming system, saying people who abandon homosexuality weren't "really" homosexual in the first place.” . . . [See reference.]
In a recent email to LifeSiteNews.com someone identifying him/herself only as ‘The Watcher’ says, “I …. was shocked to discover that there are actually organizations like yours in Canada, hiding hate behind a mask of religion.” The word ‘hate’ has been unilaterally redefined by gay activists to refer to opposing views or even facts related to homosexuality that must be censored. The email continued, “Actually, I'm glad I found you. I would appreciate it if you could supply me with a list of organizations that you know of that represent discrimination to its fullest. That way, I'll be able to keep an eye on everyone to ensure that Canada's hate laws are not infringed upon.”
In an email referencing the supposed protection for religious groups against hate crime prosecution, someone identifying himself as . . . V from Vancouver B.C. said, “You are not a religion recognized by the federal
gov't, and therefore are subject to the scrutiny of those who believe in obeying the law of the land . . . I thought you might appreciate a friendly reminder that no one is exempt from the laws governing civility in Canada.” . . . .
See Kaufman’s “Selling Homosexuality”
"Gay refugee claimants seeking haven in Canada"
[from an article by Marina Jimenez in Globeandmail.com,
April 24, 2004]
Canada is seeing a surge in the number of refugee claimants who say they are homosexuals and will be persecuted if they are returned to their homelands.
In the past three years, nearly 2,500 people from 75 different countries have sought asylum on the basis of sexual orientation, according to information released under the Access to Information Act.
It is not known how many have been allowed to stay in Canada; the Immigration and Refugee Board does not track acceptance rates by case type.
The surge in applications is being driven both by bogus claims and a growing view of Canada as a haven for persecuted homosexuals, refugee experts say.
[Click here to read the whole article.]
Adult Stem Cells from Human Retina Reproduce and Differentiate Easily
No Problems with Tumor Formation says Researcher
TORONTO/LAUSANNE, October 26, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A stem cell researcher was 'beyond shock' at how easily stem cells taken from eyes reproduced in the lab. "Within seven days, they go from one cell to 7,000 to 10,000 cells," says Brenda Coles of the University of Toronto, lead author of a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers from Toronto and Lausanne, Switzerland discovered that retinal cells were easy to obtain and the results of the tests on mice and chickens offer hope for curing certain types of blindness.
The cells were transplanted into the eyes of mice and embryonic chick eyes. The cells reproduced and were able to survive, migrate, integrate, and differentiate into all seven types of retinal tissue, especially as photoreceptors. The experiment suggests that human retinal stem cells eventually may be valuable in treating human retinal diseases such
as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
The mice and chick eyes "look perfectly normal," says Coles. The next step of the research will be to see if blind mice can have their sight restored by the stem cell treatment. After more animal tests the research could move on to human testing, but will probably take another decade, the researchers say.
The current tests, published Monday, show promise especially since the animals had no problems with the cells reproducing uncontrollably, a common problem with embryo stem cell treatment. "They didn't take over the eye, or cause any cancerous-type things or sit in inappropriate places," says Coles. "They found their home and responded to the proper signals."
ph
The following is from an article from LifeSite
"Canadian Homosexual Activists on EGALE List-Serve Discuss How to Shut Down LifeSite"
Focus on Family rep says "gay activists want to wipe out any dissenting opinion"
TORONTO, May 11, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The homosexual activist group EGALE (Equality for Gays an |