By Father John Flynn, LC
ROME, APRIL 20, 2008 (Zenit.org).- It’s getting harder for Christians to publically defend their views on controversial topics such as homosexuality. A combination of anti-discrimination laws and the de-Christianization of society is leaving little space for religion in public discourse.
One of the countries where this tendency is most marked is Canada. On April 9 Chris Kempling, a teacher in British Columbia, wrote an article for the National Post newspaper describing his problems with the province’s College of Teachers and the school system.
Over the years, Kempling has written a number of letters to newspapers expressing his concern over homosexuality and also spoken out in public on issues of sexual behavior.
One of the consequences is that he has also been suspended, without pay, on two occasions for expressing his views. One of the suspensions lasted three months. The College of Teachers also won a court decision against him in 2006 for “conduct unbecoming a member.”
Kempling explained that apparently the College of Teachers, and also his employer, the Quesnel School District, consider that his opinions could “poison the atmosphere" in his school.
The problems continue, and in January the College of Teachers issued a citation for 12 offences related to material written between 2003-05.
Concluding his article Kempling stated, “I don't think publicly espousing the Christian worldview should be prohibited for public school teachers.”
Rights sword
Calgary Bishop Fred Henry is also on the record about the dangers of human rights laws. "Human rights laws, designed as a shield, are now being used as a sword," he was quoted as saying in the Jan. 14 issue of the Western Catholic Reporter
The newspaper noted that among other recent cases, the Catholic Insight Magazine has had a human rights complaint filed against it for articles outlining Catholic teaching on homosexuality.
In 2005, Bishop Henry himself had two complaints made against him -- eventually unsuccessful -- to the Alberta Human Rights Commission for allegedly discriminatory comments in his pastoral letter on marriage.
In England, Anglican bishop Anthony Priddis was less fortunate. He was ordered to undergo equal opportunities training and to pay John Reany 47,000 pounds ($74,781) for the “offense” of having refused him a job because of his sexual orientation. Reaney, a homosexual, had applied for a post as a youth worker, the UK’s Telegraph newspaper reported Feb. 9.
Shortly after a Christian foster couple were told that they could not continue helping children unless they are willing to endorse homosexuality, reported the Daily Mail newspaper Feb. 27.
Eunice and Owen Johns have cared for almost 20 children according to the article. Their activity consists in accepting children over the weekends to give a break to parents. Due to
the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) that came into force last April, it is now illegal for any business or organization providing a public service to discriminate because of sexuality.
As a result authorities from the Derby City Council told the couple that unless they are prepared to tell young children that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle they will not be allowed to continue this work.
Marriage danger
Meanwhile, in the United States if same-sex marriage is legalized it will inevitably lead to problems for religious freedom, argued Roger Severino in an article published last year by the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy (Vol. 30, No. 2).
In “Or for Poorer? How Same-Sex Marriage Threatens Religious Liberty,” Severino, legal counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, identified four factors that ensure a conflict with religious liberty:
-- Marriage, as a uniform concept, pervades the law;
-- Religious institutions are regulated, both directly and indirectly, by laws that turn on the definition of marriage;
-- Religion has a historic public relationship with marriage that resists radical change as a deep matter of conscience;
-- Same-sex marriage proponents are similarly resistant to compromise.
Severino also went on to describe how changing the definition of marriage is not just some isolated legal modification. Changing law on marriage brings with it consequences for many areas, such as adoption, education, employee benefits, taxation and subsidies. This also means that religious organizations are affected in their schools, hospitals, orphanages and universities.
After a detailed consideration of the legal issues involved Sererino concluded that the legalization of same- sex marriage in the United States would result in widespread legal battles. Such litigation, or merely the threat of it, would have a chilling effect on religious liberty, he judged.
European threat
Threats to religion are not limited to homosexual issues. Recently the European Commission initiated proceedings against 11 countries held to be in breach of European Union law. A Feb. 22 press release from the Dublin-based non-governmental organization, the Iona Institute, explained the situation from the Irish perspective.
The Irish government received what is termed a “Reasoned Opinion,” from the European Commission, accusing Irish law of being out of line with an European Union equality directive. The Iona Institute explained that if successful the challenge has very far-reaching implications because one of the Irish laws being targeted allows religious schools and hospitals permission not to hire prospective employees who they deem might be harmful to their ethos.
This exemption was negotiated a number of years ago to the satisfaction of the Government, the Churches and the other religions. At the time, the Iona Institute added, the exemption was upheld by the European Union’s Council of Ministers and became part of European Union law. Now, however, the European Commission believes the exemption is too broad.
On April 5 the Irish Times reported that the Catholic Church in Ireland is seeking legal advice on how to challenge the European Commission’s position. Monsignor Jim Cassin, executive secretary of the episcopal commission for education, also told the newspaper that the Church would be liaising with other faiths, including Jewish and Muslim leaders, on the matter.
Secularization dangers
The dangers of denying a legitimate role for Christian principles in today’s world is a topic often touched on by Benedict XVI. In his speech on Jan. 24 to the bishops of Slovenia in Rome for their five-yearly visit the Pontiff said that if Europe wants to preserve the dignity of the human person it cannot deny the contribution made by Christianity to this principle.
Eliminating any role for religion, Benedict XVI pointed out, will also have consequences in the ethical and social dimensions. He warned that there are negative consequences for civil coexistence if some anthropological visions prevail.
A purely secular and individualistic vision of the person and society brings with it many dangers, he adverted. An unbridled search for material goods, a reduced birth rate, and difficulties in maintaining a just and supportive community were some of the threats the Pope mentioned.
Benedict XVI returned to the theme in his March 8 address to the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture. The theme of the meeting was precisely "The Church and the challenge of secularization."
“Secularization that often turns into secularism, abandoning the positive acceptance of secularity, harshly tries the Christian life of the faithful and Pastors alike,” said the Pope.
“The ‘death of God’ proclaimed by many intellectuals in recent decades is giving way to a barren cult of the individual,” he continued.
The Pontiff adverted that secularization, is invading every aspect of daily life and is also affecting the Church and the behavior of believers. The cultural imagery influences us to think we have no need of God and also spurs us on to superficiality, selfishness, and a hedonistic way of life, the Pope warned. A way of life that unfortunately many governments and powerful groups are bent on promoting and forcing upon churches and believers.
