The demise of freedom of speech through social and political correctness in Canada:
I have been following the events of an American pro-family activist named Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality. Recently LaBarbera was denied entrance into Canada on the possibility of committing a hate crime in Canada. Did you note the word “possibility”? This translates for us here in Canada as “guilty until you can prove yourself innocent.” Later, Mr. LaBarbera was allowed to enter into Canada so that he might attend some upcoming speaking engagements scheduled in Regina, Saskatchewan. You can read about it here: LINK
This morning I came across these head lines – “BREAKING: American pro-family activist LaBarbera arrested in Canada”. Links:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-american-pro-family-activist-labarbera-arrested-in-canada
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/u-s-anti-gay-activist-peter-labarbera-arrested-in-regina-1.2610123.
It is note worthy that in the CBC article it is stated that Mr. LaBarbera and Mr. Bill Whatcott had permission to be on the University of Regina campus. Didn’t the University officials know what these men were going to speak about? Why would they be allowed to speak on this campus? Well, every Canadian knows why, because of the Charter of Rights given to every Canadian, i.e., freedom of speech.
As the news source goes on to explain, University officials decided to deny these two men their rights to free speech. Since these men were not going to leave the campus, they were arrested for mischief. Yes, the University determined what speech was acceptable on a public campus in Canada. It was not the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that determined this, nor even the Supreme Court of Canada, but a public entity. One that receives tax payers’ money. Mr LaBarbera is later quoted by the CBC as saying,
“The idea that you can’t have an open debate on homosexuality on a college campus and some speech code is brought in, to kick people off … seems to me to be pretty undemocratic…”
Dear Canadian citizen, you might wonder what this event that happened way out at the University of Regina has to do with us, here in Cornwall? On July 27, 2012, while in Lamoureux Park during Rib Fest, while doing open air evangelism for our church, I was arrested and removed from our public park for trespassing. Yes, I was placed in handcuffs, and physically removed from the park. How could I be trespassing in a public park? But the Rib Fest organizers (the Seaway Lions Club) did not want me to be in the park while exercising my Charter Rights! So they pressured the police to arrest me and remove me by force. To make a long story short, my lawyer pressed the County to drop the charges on the basis that I was denied my Charter Rights and Freedoms, and informed them that we were going to fight it all the way. On March 27, 2013, charges were withdrawn. Notice I was guilty until I could prove my innocence, or that I actually had some rights as a Canadian citizen.
I conclude with what Mr. Whatcott is recorded as saying: “Students, this is wrong. Even those of you who might disagree with me, we are all less free because of this; everybody loses. There are not any winners.” Whatcott concluded, saying, “Shame on this university for suppressing speech.” Just because one’s topic of free speech is not socially or politically correct according to the degenerate moral climate of our day, does not give the University of Regina, nor The Seaway Lions Club, the right to determine what is acceptable free speech and what is not. It is a sad day in Canada when our law enforcement is put in a place where they must cater to the so-called “power groups” that are in authority in one’s community. The Seaway Lions Club denied me my rights as a Canadian citizen, as did the Cornwall police department.
When will it stop? Or better yet, who will be next to be denied their freedom of speech by the god of social political correctness? “…everybody loses. There are not any winners.” Mr. Whatcott is absolutely right! The Holy Scriptures sum up what is happening in Canada today in Exodus 23:2: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest justice.”
Pastor Tom Newton
Calvary Baptist Church, Cornwall, Ont.
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Pastor it is a degenerate and no morals of a society that we have today – society is gone to hell. Here in Canada we don’t have much of a freedom of speech. The US always had the most freedom in speech and now it is being taken away from them. Nowadays people no longer care about God nor good morals and life is satanic. People are going to pay for this kind of behavior and it is just a matter of time. Abortion is satanic – child sacrifice. The majority of people have no idea what all this is about. This is satan’s world and is influencing people in the evil ways.
Funny how it’s always the people who are up to no good who scream that their freedom of speech has been violated when they get caught. Those who break the law trying to make life miserable for gay people – including those haters who have non-profit organizations and make obscenely big paychecks living off the misery of gay people like LaBarbera- deserve to be charged with a crime. It’s not freedom of speech they’re demanding – it’s the freedom to hate.
I suppose that anyone who hates a certain segment of society should be allowed to publicly express his/her hatred, as long as they don’t overtly promote violence.
Mr. Newton, as usual, treads a fine line when it comes to supporting or spouting hate. It truly boggles my mind that Mr. Newton considers himself a Christian.
Furtz – writes “It truly boggles my mind that Mr. Newton considers himself a Christian”. Furtz it is clear that you do not know at all – not a cue, who,or what is a biblical Christian, thus your mind is in a continue state of being boggled! How about replacing being boggled to being spiritual blind, and dead in trespasses and sins. By the way, that’s what the Bible says of everyone who is lost in their sins and without a saving relationship to the Risen Lord Jesus.
Very well put Furtz. In regard to your arrest at Lamoureux Park during Rib Fest Mr. Newton, yes it is a public park. But when an organization pays to rent the park they become owners or tenants at that time. If they don’t like what you are saying and you refuse to leave when asked then they can have you arrested for trespassing. The same thing applies to an average citizen if they ask someone to leave their property and they refuse they can be arrested for trespassing. Just because you were arrested does not make you guilty.
Hugger1 – I have been in the park for years and I have run across the “organization pays to rent the park they become owners or tenants at that time” element. But that is not the case, even in the lease agreement that “the organization” signs to use the park, co-use is still allowed. It is stated right in the lease agreement. More than once “the organization” in the past objected but the police have said time and time again that I was in my rights to be there – it is still a public park open to all the public, even while holding a special event. If fences are set up, like in Lift off, then in side the fence area is legally off limits for me. And I have always respected that rule. Outside the fences, inside the park, I have every right legally to be there. That is the law.
When it comes to fundamentalist religion and bigotry/hatefulness, I have the old chicken and egg question. Do hateful bigots choose a religion that fits with their preexisting condition? Or do they become hateful bigots after being indoctrinated into a hateful religion?
Perhaps Mr. Newton. But maybe they didn’t like what you were spewing and wanted you removed. They did after all pay to rent the park. So……….
Hugger1- free speech is free speech whether the person likes it or not. Get back to the point: Is a community entity allowed to deny you your free speech when the Charter Rights guarantees it? Again I am perfectly within my rights to be in the park during a festival time, if I so choose, to do my evangelistic work.
The Bible and Christianity is not a hateful and biggeted religion at all and when Jesus comes back to rule the earth in the future He will rule with a rod of iron. People will continue to rebel like they always do but He will put them in their place.
If you think there is freedom of speech that is a mistake. I find it is a misconception in Canada.
@ Jules. Of course I’m not suggesting that all Christians are hateful bigots. I know many Christians who are fine and decent people. But I also know some hateful bigots, without mentioning names, who claim to be Christian.
Furtz that is in all religions believe me. All religions have a great deal wrong with them and is not the real true religion that Jesus preached. Every denomination including our Catholic faith has been twisted inside out and upside down to suit certain people. Since Vatican II it is like entering a Protestant church and I don’t say that lightly. People do not know where religions stem from and if they did they would run from a lot of them. I am very religious but I won’t enter the Catholic church anymore. I saw what happened in Cornwall how the priests and others got away with their crimes and I want nothing more to do with all the hypocracy. People would be in dreadful shock to know where they all stem from.
@ Jules. You say “All religions have a great deal wrong with them…” On that we agree! And that is why I’ve been happily free of the BS for over fifty years.
Here is another news source take on the Demise of free speech in Canada. Notice as you watch the video what pro-gay/Liberal activists think about your right to free speech. Free speech for gays, but forget free speech for anti-gay convictions? http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/featured/prime-time/867432237001/collapse-of-free-speech/3472887352001
Furtz I was 8 years old when I started to notice things and being from a family of mixed faith of Catholic and Protestant and seeing what happened in Cornwall and the hypocracy I can tell you that I too didn’t want to go to church back then at all. Religion turned me off completely. My dad would joke about things in the Catholic church. All religions are corrupted and have been mis read by trying to translate from different languages and people are corrupt and have corrupted the original church to suit themselves. Since Vatican II it is a great deal worse and I want no part of it.
@ Jules. I too was about about eight years old when it dawned on me that the nastiness spewing from the pulpit was toxic. And all these years later, Mr. Newton proves over and over, that I was right. I’ve just never had enough hate in me to be successfully born again. For that, I am grateful.
Gays are found throughout history. For the first time ever – finally – they’re almost worldwide! Wow!
This global gaydom is even foretold in the Bible – predicted by Jesus (see “days of Lot” in Luke 17 and compare with Genesis 19).
And the Hebrew prophet Zechariah (14th chapter) says that during the same gay “days” ALL nations will come against Israel and fulfill the “days of Noah” at the same time (see Luke 17 again) – a short time of anti-Jewish genocide found in Zechariah 13:8 when two-thirds of all Jews will die.
In other words, when “gay days” have become universal, all hell will break loose!
Shockingly, the same “days” will lead to and trigger the “end of days” – and when they begin, human government will quickly wind down in just a few short years. For the first time in history there won’t be enough time for anyone to expect to live long enough to be able to attend college, have kids and grand-kids, save for and enjoy retirement, etc.
One final thought. The more we see gays “coming out,” the sooner Jesus will be “coming down”!
(For more, Google or Yahoo “God to Same-Sexers: Hurry Up,” “Jesus Never Mentioned Homosexuality. When gays have birthdays…,” and “FOR GAYS ONLY: Jesus Predicted…”)
@ Jeff. You’re putting us on, right?
Furtz- yes, Jeff is dead on – according to the Holy Word of God. Amen!
Not sure if that’s funny or sad.
No sane person actually believes that craziness, do they?
I can sort of understand basic hatefulness, but that kind of insanity is way beyond my comprehension.
Furtz you know that I always say what I believe and I come out with things here that Jamie will not let through the system and I can tell you frankly that what Jeff said is the absolute truth. You may find it hilarious at times about what Pastor Newton preaches but it really isn’t funny but the truth. I wouldn’t say this to you if it were not so. We are living in a time where people are afraid to say something so as not to hurt the others and that is why Pastor Newton was stopped from preaching in a public place even though he was right about what he was saying. Even in India now they showed about transgender and all over the world. Honestly Furtz I wouldn’t be surprised if God ends the world at any time. Things are so very bad and worse than you know.
“….beyond my comprehension”.
1Co 2:14 “That’s why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish”.
2Co 4:3-4 “If there is anything hidden about our message, it is hidden only to someone who is lost. The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like”.
Psa 14:1-3 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one”.
There’s something fundamentally evil about people who use their religion as an excuse to promote hate.
Reborn Christians came to pray at my father’s funeral….I was 15….They shook him in his casket while hollering ” Rise,,,Rise and walk with Jesus….” .////from then on …with the nightmares they put in my head ….I realized that your are all just …..” Nuts “……its all personal …peole should not use God as a ” Crutch ” to promote hatred ….every one is a sinner except the ” Choosen ” few…….your kidding me ,..Right?…..they spend their days judge the level of other peoples’ sins…….when they could be helping to feed the world instead of trying to rule it…!
Marc writes -“every one is a sinner except the ” Choosen ” few…”. I don’t find that in my Bible. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. Except One – the Lord Jesus Christ; He is risen to prove it!
Quoting the bible makes you a Christian about as the same as owning a hammer makes you a carpenter.
Believing the Bible testifies that you are a Christian, as the same as not obeying the Bible makes you a sinner.
The cool thing about being a sinner as opposed to being “born again” is that you don’t have to spend your life obsessing about and hating the billions of people who were born okay the first time.
@ Tom Newton…..That is a very narrow-minded thought.
By the way Hugger1, it was the Lord Jesus Christ who said -“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”(Matt. 7:13-14). Also He said – John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”.
I can be as narrow-minded as the Lord of All – all to the glory of His marvelous grace!
Mr. Newton’s god loves you so much that he created hell just in case you don’t love him back.
Here is another take on the Demise of freedom of speech
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/the-decline-of-free-speech/3496539564001
Yes,Furtz not loving God is a universal, capital crime that is worthy of eternal death and punishment. Just because you and others can not perceive the beauty and loveliness of God proves your spiritual blindness. I once was blind, but by His grace and mercy I can see!
Hell is for all those that persevere in their hatred towards a most loving Creator and Savior. Those in hell are just getting what they deserve as criminals, lawbreakers, and rebels. Such are now paying for their sins that they loved, and would not part with. JUSTICE! Pure and simple – “The wages of sin is death”. It is God who sets up the standard and rules, not sinful, fallen mankind.
1Co 16:22 “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. The Lord comes!”.
I can sort of understand your frustration Mr. Newton. However, you must realize that no matter how much you hate certain groups of people, it is becoming less and less socially acceptable to express that hate in public places.
I agree with Furtz. So much so I can’t call Mr. Newton Pastor. He has some very warped ideas of what a Christian is.
“He has some very warped ideas of what a Christian is”. – And Hugger1 you have no idea what a Christian is!
Furtz writes “…it is becoming less and less socially acceptable”, then it comes the time to obey God rather than man.
We agree to disagree.
not so!
And you wonder why some people have issues with you?
Hugger1 – I don’t wonder at all that sinners, like myself before I was saved, have issues with dealing with their sin. Thank the Lord, that God deals with us in mercy, and brings conviction of sin and commands repentance for all. And, yes, that He doesn’t leave us in our rebellion to justly perish in our sins.
You have a very good talent at twisting someone else’s words to suit your needs.
“”like myself before I was saved”. You’re still a sinner. There are a lot of organizations and individuals that complain that their freedom of speech is compromised, like “pastor Phelps” and the Westboro Baptist Church (just one example of a supposed church), the KKK, white supremacists, Baptist “pastors” promoting the death penalty in foreign countries etc. etc. Baptist, church, or otherwise, these are all hate or criminal groups usually headed up by mentally ill frauds and imposters, claiming to preach the word of God, the same word of God that criminals in prison use to justify their own crimes. There`s more to Christianity than reading selected passages out of context from a book that the reader doesn`t even begin to understand. Hate, of any kind, and the preaching of hate,is totally foreign to Christ and His teachings. If you`ve noticed, some of these so-called preachers gingerly avoid discussing the death penalty cited in the Old Testament or the Quran, something they would like to see implemented to-day. Some would gladly return to the days of burning heretics at the stake. There is lots of darkness, evil, and satanic thinking hiding in what some try to pass off as religion. Make sure you know what hides in the religion you follow.
@ Roger. If one really feels the need for a religion, but wants to avoid the bigotry and hatefulness that is generally part of the deal, there is only one choice. And that is to embrace Pastafarianism,the only true religion. Once touched by the Noodly Appendage of The Flying Spaghetti Monster, all traces of bigotry and hatefulness will forever be washed from your soul. That is THE TRUTH!
“Make sure you know what hides in the religion you follow”. – and of course Roger is here to enlighten us all.
Roger writes – ”like myself before I was saved”. You’re still a sinner.
Actually, yes I still sin, there is a Biblical difference between individual acts of sin as a justified child of God, and a habitual life style of sin of a unrepentant sinner. A Christian knows what to do about individual sins – confess them and wash them away by the blood of Jesus, and then seek grace to change. I do not desire to sin.I desire to please God, via the Lord Jesus Christ. How about you?
By His grace I am not a forgiven criminal anymore, and but an adopted son of God. I have the privilege and right to call God “Abba, Father”, what about you? This is what the Bible calls “justification by faith”. Ever heard of that Roger?
God has begun a inward work of sanctification in each new Christian – making one holy by the power of God Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and the work He has begun, He will finish it. God promised, and He will keep His word. But first God establishes a grace relationship with His “new born child”, then He begins to child train His son in the ways of heart purity and holiness – to be like Christ. Foreign to you?
Still can’t face or deal with the real issues presented to you. You avoid anything that requires intelligent comment for real people.
real issues – Christ and Him crucified!
intelligent comment for real people. 1Co 1:18-20 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world”?
You’re a lost cause my friend. I should add that I’m very comfortable with my relationship with Christ and my salvation.
@ Roger. Here’s a couple of bible verses that might give you pause.
Deut. 23:1; No man whose testicles have been crushed or whose organ has been cut off may become a member of the Assembly of God.
Leviticus 24:16; Whoever utters the name of the Lord must be put to death. The whole community must stone him, whether alien or native. If he utters the name, he must be put to death.
To sum it up… Always wear your protective hockey gear, and never mention the name of “you know who” in public.
Roger you wrote of “real issues” and “real people”, hope you have the “real” Christ –
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him”(2Co 11:3-4).