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Rev.
J. Martin Kreplin does not want to see the day when the
Bible is classified as hate literature.
That's
why the congregation of his church, St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Church in Moncton, together with the congregations of
other Presbyterian churches across southern New Brunswick,
have mounted opposition against both Bill C-415, and its
successor, Bill C-250 in an official declaration.
"We
became aware of the issue when the bill was put forward
as Bill C-415," said Kreplin. "That bill was
later renumbered as Bill C-250, and we are concerned that
the bill has the potential to have the Bible declared
hate literature and infringe upon freedom of speech, if
passed."
Bill
C-250 is a private member’s Bill introduced by B.C.
New Democrat MP Svend Robinson in November of last year.
The Bill seeks to make "sexual orientation"
a ground on which the Criminal Code’s hate crime
provisions can be triggered, in addition to the existing
grounds of colour, race, religion and ethnic origin. Although
the Bill did not become law during Parliament’s last
session, the Bill was revived on October 24, 2002 as Bill
C-250.
As
a result, some are concerned that sections of the Bible
that address homosexuality could be considered hate literature.
Leviticus 18, for example, addresses "unlawful sexual
relations," saying "Do not lie with a man as
one lies with a woman; that is detestable."
The
Bible goes on to say that this is among many other banned
acts for which the Lord warns transgressions will be met
with severe punishment. "Everyone who does any of
these detestable things such persons must be cut off from
their people. Keep my requirements and do not follow any
of the detestable customs that were practiced before you
came and do not defile yourselves with them."
Finally,
in Romans, God punished those who exchanged His image
for mortal beings. "Because of this, God gave them
over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural
relations with unnatural ones. In the same way the men
also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed
with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts
with other men and received in themselves their due penalty
for their perversion."
"As
well," Kreplin adds, "the bill has the potential
to deem free and open debate about sexual orientation,
and discussions about whether or not to support a homosexual
lifestyle, as hateful. Thus, in our declaration we are
seeking that the bill be amended, or defeated."
In
the declaration St. Andrew’s has prepared against
Bill C-250 and circulated to all members of Parliament
and the Senate, the proposed amendment would see teachings
of the Holy Scripture and debate, discussion and teaching
on the subject of sexual orientation be exempt from the
bill. The declaration has also been circulated to other
individuals and groups, asking them to send a letter to
their member of Parliament requesting that they vote against
the bill.
"The
bill will come to its second reading in late January or
February of next year," said Kreplin. "We are
hoping that the timing of the release of our declaration
will mean that constituents concerned about the potential
ramifications of the bill will have the opportunity over
Christmas to visit their MP and make their concerns known."
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