Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Canada: Muffled Catholic Voice

This story was brought to my attention by Karl Keating of Catholic Answers. I subscribe to his E-Letter which comes out sporadically.

This issue mentions a Father Alphonse de Valk, a Catholic priest, well known for his pro-life activities, wrote in defense of the Church’s teaching on marriage. Specifically, he wrote against “gay marriage,” citing the Bible, the catechism, and the writings of John Paul II. He wrote nothing that you or I would consider inflammatory; he simply restated constant Church teaching: marriage can exist only between one man and one woman.

What Fr. de Valk got for his troubles was a complaint filed by homosexuals who accused him of fostering “extreme hatred and contempt.” So far, the legal expenses for the priest and his magazine have exceeded $20,000. They are sure to rise.

Catholic Insight is a small-circulation, orthodox Catholic magazine. (That is almost tautological. All orthodox Catholic magazines have small circulations.) If its legal bills pile up enough, the magazine will have to fold—which is probably the goal of both the complainants and the activists on the human rights commission.
(LINK TO CATHOLIC ANSWERS - CARL'S E-LETTER)

It appears that Canada has a Human Rights Commission (non-elected by the people) that basically has free reign to declare that Father de Valk's review of catholic teaching is considered hate crime. And one more thing, you're considered guilty until proven (that means if the commission believes your side of the story) innocent.

Hey, what ever happen to free speach? Do they not have it in Canada?

Here's the Catholic Insight website if you'd like to help Father de Valk out with his legal expenses.

.... Don't think this could not happen here in the good old United States of America.

1 comment:

  1. Catholic Insight faces attack on yet another front. You will also be interested to know Catholic Insight has been put on a Heritage Canada watch list for communicating Church doctrine.

    http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/2008/08/heritage-canada-letters-to-catholic.html

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