wake up canada!

I think I've posted enough heavy stuff lately. Was going to post something nice, light and feel-good next, until I found this. (I know it's just someone's opinion -- but it gives me a creepy feeling...):

OTTAWA, July 19, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Just as Senate approaches the final vote on the gay 'marriage' bill, C-38, Canada's national public radio CBC Radio (THEY BROADAST ON OUR DIME!) has aired a commentary by a retired professor from the Royal Military College calling for state control over religion, specifically Catholicism. While parliamentarians dismissed warnings by numerous religious leaders and experts that such laws would lead to religious persecution, former professor Bob Ferguson has called for "legislation to regulate the practice of religion"

Given the inertia of the Catholic Church, perhaps we could encourage reform by changing the environment in which all religions operate," Ferguson began his commentary in measured tones yesterday. "Couldn't we insist that human rights, employment and consumer legislation apply to them as it does other organizations? Then it would be illegal to require a particular marital status as a condition of employment or to exclude women from the priesthood. "

[...] The former professor pitched his idea as a boon to religious freedom. "We could also help the general cause of religious freedom by introducing a code of moral practice for religions," he said. "They will never achieve unity so why not try for compatibility? Can't religious leaders agree to adjust doctrine so all religions can operate within the code?"

Ferguson, would see religion regulated by provinces in the same way professions are regulated. "I am an engineer so the model I am thinking about is rather like the provincial acts regulating the practice of engineering,".... The different branches: mechanical, electrical, civil and the like have a code of practice that applies to everyone. Why can't religious groups do the same?"

Continuing his comparison Ferguson stated, "I envisage a congress meeting to hammer out a code that would form the basis of legislation to regulate the practice of religion. Like the professional engineers' P.Eng designation, there would then be RRPs (or registered religious practitioners). To carry the analogy to its conclusion, no one could be a religious practitioner without this qualification."

Ferguson also suggests 'obvious' prohibitions on religion including preaching of 'hate'. "I won't try to propose what might be in the new code except for a few obvious things: A key item would have to be a ban on claims of exclusivity. It should be unethical for any RRP to claim that theirs was the one true religion and believers in anything else or nothing were doomed to fire and brimstone. One might also expect prohibition of ritual circumcisions, bans on preaching hate or violence, the regulation of faith healers, protocols for missionary work, etc.," says Ferguson.

The retired professor concluded his comments aired on CBC yesterday (that would be Monday, August 18th) morning saying, "Now what is the point of proposing this? I do it because I am worried that the separation between church and state is under threat. Religion is important in our lives, but it can become a danger to society when people claim that the unalterable will of God is the basis for their opinions and actions. Yes religion can be a comfort and a guide, but we cannot take rules from our holy books and apply them to the modern world without democratic debate and due regard for the law."

(emphasis mine)

Wake up Canada -- the coffee's burning!

Listen to Professor Ferguson’s commentary.

Want to tell CBC your thoughts about this? Do it here.

I just did. Here's what I wrote them: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is in regard to a "Commentary" by Bob Ferguson, broadcast Monday, July 18,
2005.

I am frankly shocked and disappointed that the publically-funded CBC would give credibility to such repressive ideas by giving them air time! Do you not realize that thousands upon thousands of Canadians came here to escape just such box-in-religion regimes like Mr. Ferguson advocates.

I used to be a fan of the CBC. But your recent and consistent left-wing and anti-American tack turn me off. This attack on Canadian people of faith, though, with its complete and utter misunderstanding of religion and its role in people's lives goes beyond the pale!

Let Mr. Ferguson have his say. I support his right to say it. But not on the CBC where I’m forced to help pay the bill! I will be doing my best, in the future, to fight for privatization of this propaganda machine.

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Hat tip: ProudToBeCanadian