Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Freethinker

Home
Nonreligious
‘Gay cure’ ban brings Canada closer to ‘criminalising Christianity’

‘Gay cure’ ban brings Canada closer to ‘criminalising Christianity’

Last updated on: October 4, 2020 at 5:11 pm by Barry Duke

‘Gay cure’ ban brings Canada closer to ‘criminalising Christianity’ 2020-10-04T17:11:51+02:00 Barry Duke

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

ON THE same day that Canada announced planned legislation to outlaw conversion therapy (October 1), UK-based Christian Concern ran a lengthy piece warning that Canada was ‘on the brink of criminalising Chistianity.’

images via YouTube

It said that the proposed legislation – introduced by David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, above, would:

Remove meaningful personal choice by imposing the affirmation and promotion of homosexuality and/or gender transition as the only acceptable form of counsel, guidance or treatment – especially for children experiencing gender identity distress.

Under the cover of outlawing barbaric and harmful ‘treatments’ that no-one actually practices, a radical and ideologically pagan view of sexuality and gender is enforced by making the definition of ‘conversion therapy’ so wide (including spiritual, medical and psychological supports) that youth with unwanted feelings or addictions would have no choice but to have ‘treatments’ that either reinforce these unwanted feelings and addictions, or permanently alter their bodies.

But here’s the thing: It is clearly stated on the Department of Justice’s website that changes to Canada’s criminal code outlawing conversion therapy:

Would not apply to those who provide support to persons questioning their sexual orientation, sexual feelings or gender identity (such as teachers, school counsellors, pastoral counsellors, faith leaders, doctors, mental health professionals, friends or family members).

Yesterday, when I posted a piece about the proposed legislation on the The Pink Humanist‘s website, I suggested that faith groups, probably the only ones left who practice conversion therapy, were being let off the hook. Today, I learned that I’m not the only one which thinks that way.

Image via YouTube

Back in April, The Toronto Observer highlighted the negative effects of the practice on Jonathan Brower, above, who said that that the government’s inability to create legislation against “religious communities or theology” does not afford full protection to LGBTQ Canadians.

It’s very hard to see that this legislation will impact some of these, like really sneaky organisation.

Image via YouTube

Despite that, the Wilberforce Academy’s Dr Joe Boot, above, writing for Christian Concern, persisted with his “persecuted Christian” narrative:

Bill C-8 [it’s actually now C-6] states clearly in its preamble: ‘conversion therapy … is based on and propagates myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation and gender identity, including the myth that a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity can and ought to be changed.

Clearly here, Biblical truth (cf. 1 Cor. 6: 9-11) and the historic teaching of the church concerning human sexuality are condemned as myth and Christ’s call to repentance from sexual sin is overtly rejected.

Justice Minister David Lametti explained his rationale for the ban, saying: ‘Conversion therapy is premised on a lie, that being homosexual, lesbian, bisexual or trans is wrong and in need of fixing. Not only is that false, it sends a demeaning and a degrading message that undermines the dignity of individuals.’

So, on the authority of Mr. Lametti, God’s Word, the authority of Christ, the teaching of the universal Church and centuries of normative understandings of the human person are dismissed as lies to be overthrown, with resisters cast into prison.

Christian Concern, founded by the ghastly Andrea Minichiello Williams, is by no means the only organisation attempting to sow panic over Bill C-6. Here’s a rancid package of rampant paranoia and outright lies from the Campaign Life Coalition:

Organizations that provide help to people struggling with gender confusion and same-sex attraction will be threatened with closure in Canada … or arrest. These include the Catholic ministry Courage and the Evangelical ministry Exodus Global Alliance.

Churches and denominations that affirm the biblical view of sexuality and gender may come under police investigation, and pastors and ministry leaders could be arrested. Bill C-6 prescribes up to two years in jail for those who publicly offer help for transgender and homosexual adults who want to change their behaviour or lifestyle, and up to five years in prison for providing such help to minors.

Parents who attempt to counsel their children to resist or overcome their gender confusion or same-sex attraction will face up to five years in jail. If parents refuse to facilitate their children’s request to take puberty-blockers and cross-sex hormones in preparation for mutilating sex change surgery, parents will face up to five years in jail. The same penalty applies if parents bring their children to someone else for counselling.

Books, magazines, brochures, podcasts, YouTube videos, web pages, and other publicly-available resources that offer help for transgenders and homosexuals to overcome their unwanted feelings can be censored and seized under Bill C-6. Police are also empowered to wiretap the phones of suspected ‘offenders’ (i.e. parents, priests, psychologists, family doctors, socially-coneservative groups, etc.).

Even the simple message that transgenders and homosexuals can be forgiven and healed could be censored, if that message were proclaimed through a public medium. And those sharing that message could face up to two years in jail.

Though some claim the purpose of Bill C-6 is to prevent violence against LGBT individuals, this is clearly not the case. Our Criminal Code already outlaws harassment, abuse, forced confinement and assault. Our Human Rights Code already prohibits discrimination.

Rather, Bill C-6 is designed to eliminate certain politically-incorrect ideas, beliefs, and viewpoints from Canadian society by entrenching a totalitarian law in our Criminal Code. This law will discriminate against Evangelicals, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Social Conservatives, and anyone who holds to a traditional view on sexuality and gender. This law will also discriminate against ex-LGBT individuals. It is a form of thought-control and political suppression.

This bill is completely unacceptable in a free and democratic society. Second only to the 1969 legalization of abortion by Trudeau’s father, this is the most dangerous law ever proposed in Canadian history. It must be stopped!

So what will Bill-C6 actually outlaw if passed? Here’s this from the Department of Justice:

• Please report any typos/errors to [email protected]

If you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee – and boy, do I get through a LOT of coffee keeping this site active – please click the link below.

I’d love a cup of coffee

Previous Post

October 3, 2020

Screwed twice over: victims of abusive NJ Catholic clerics

Next Post

October 5, 2020 Florida cop assaulted with an offensive weapon: a Bible.

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Archive My Atheism News Opinion Reviews Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 March 2007 April 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many letters (epistles) did Paul write in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

13 12 14 10

Books by This Author Books by The Freethinker

See All Titles »