Here's an article taken from the Globe and Mail website, written by Jane Taber in which she reports that the Conservative Party has taken offense at what it calls a 'faith-war' being waged by the CBC.
Notwithstanding the political implications of a political party complaining about the media (as if that's never happened before!), Taber does a decent job of summarizing the 'evidence' that the CBC is indeed antithetical to the voices of faith in the public square.
12 May, 2010
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- Fr. Tim Moyle
- A Roman Catholic Evangelical Priest of the Diocese of Pembroke, Canada. Shown in my profile photo with my canine companion, Mateo.
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Would somebody please tell Harper's "strategists" to grow up and get real?
ReplyDeleteNobody really cares what their religion is or how they practise it, so long as they don't try to practise it on others at taxpayer expense.
And for people who whine about "freedom of religion," they seem not to be able to count past one -- their own.
The Globe and Mail story is of partisan political interest, but not of religious significance.
ReplyDeleteLady Janus,
ReplyDelete"Would somebody please tell Harper's "strategists" to grow up and get real?"
I'm not sure why you are blaming PM Harper's "strategists". The Conservative Party is simply trying to defend itself against false claims by the CBC that it has been taken over by the religious right based on a twisted book called "The Armageddon Factor".
The fact that there are some members of Parliament and possibly some cabinet ministers who have religous beliefs and maybe even go to church (horrors), does not mean the government has been taken over or controlled by religious fanatics or the so-called "religious right". We still have freedom of religion guaranteed in the Charter of Rights in Canada, and people in Parliament and government are free to practice or not practice a religion, just as anybody else.
I suggest you read the book STG. The linkages to the religious right are far more concrete than merely attending church servies.
ReplyDeleteCheers...Martin
"I'm not sure why you are blaming PM Harper's 'strategists'."
ReplyDeleteBecause they're the ones promulgating the lie that there is a religious war and that they are its victims.
Martin,
ReplyDelete"I suggest you read the book STG. The linkages to the religious right are far more concrete than merely attending church servies."
I don't need to read the book. I heard the author interviewed several times on CBC and CTV and also other commentators. The author is obviously heavily biased against the evangelical christian segment. Why is she discriminating against evangelical christians and getting away with it. "linkages to the religious right??" Since when has it become a crime for an elected MP or cabinet minister to identify himself or herself with the religious right? This does not mean these people are not representing all Canadians. It is just that they may not always agree with certain special interest groups. They may have a certain view on some topics which conflicts with the views of some Canadians. Also, people support whatever Party represents what they believe in. That's what democracy is all about.
If her target was any other group in Canada such as the Jews or natives she would be called a racist or bigot. Evangelical christians are among the last to be discriminated against with impunity.
As was aptly pointed out, there are many special interest groups with opposite points of view who lobby the government about many different things. Just because there a half dozen evangelical christian organizations in Ottawa who lobby the government, doesn't mean our democratic system is not working as it should. It is perfectly fair and reasonable in a democratic society to allow everyone and every special interest group to have their say.
Secondly, the Conservative Party always had a certain segment of it's members who are evangelical christians, although I am not sure what percentage. It is perfectly reasonable in a democratic society for evangelical christians to have their voices heard as well as other groups. It is not going to make Canada a worse place. If you can't agree with the Party as a whole, don't vote for it; support whatever party is most in line with your beliefs. But don't be suprised the Conservative gov't represents the views on some issues of evangelical christians.
When this author was asked to give some examples to show how this was having a negative effect on Canada's laws and the way it was governed, she was hard pressed to find anything. About all she could come up with was Canada's foreign policy which favoured Israel. This is hardly a bad thing. Israel is an ally of the west and is the only really democratic country in the middle east except for a few countries which are riddled with terrorists or terrorist organizations.
"Why is she discriminating against evangelical christians and getting away with it."
ReplyDeleteAnd why are you discriminating against non-evangelicals and getting away with it?
"...people support whatever Party represents what they believe in. That's what democracy is all about."
Not, acksully. Democracy is supposed to be about the people telling the politicians what they want, not the backwards way we do things now.
"It is perfectly fair and reasonable in a democratic society to allow everyone and every special interest group to have their say."
Sure it is. What is not perfectly fair and reasonable is for those special interest groups to impose their say on the rest of the country, whether they're in the majority (not) or the minority!
Hi Small Town Guy,
ReplyDelete"I don't need to read the book."
You don't, but if you are going to critique the book you might want to. Not every criticism out there is accurate or relevant. I have purchased a copy.
"The author is obviously heavily biased against the evangelical christian segment."
I am one quarter of the way through and I do not see any such bias.
"Why is she discriminating against evangelical christians and getting away with it."
Highlighting linkages and asking questions is not discrimination. You are resorting to hyperbole.
"Since when has it become a crime for an elected MP or cabinet minister to identify himself or herself with the religious right?"
No one is saying it is a crime. Having said that, we have seen plenty of evidence south of the border how the religious right was, and is, inlfuencing government. Canadians have good reason to be concerned and they certainly have a right to know if foreign organizations are attempting to shape Canada's public policy.
"They may have a certain view on some topics which conflicts with the views of some Canadians."
Yes - such as the world is only 6,000 years old, that humans coexisted with dinosaurs, and that the Rapture will take place one the Jews are in control of the Holy Land.
"If her target was any other group in Canada such as the Jews or natives she would be called a racist or bigot. Evangelical christians are among the last to be discriminated against with impunity."
No STG - she actually shows how the evangelicals are making common cause with Zionist Jews and Muslims to advance a socially conservative agenda. You see, if you want to be an intelligent critic of her work, you might actually have to read the book.
"Just because there a half dozen evangelical christian organizations in Ottawa who lobby the government, doesn't mean our democratic system is not working as it should."
We need transparency about all organizations that are lobbying the government. It is our democratic right to know who is trying to influence our public policy. That is why lobbyists have to be registered in Ottawa. Democracy does not flourish under a veil of secrecy and deceit.
"It is not going to make Canada a worse place."
Well, that is up to Canadians to decide. But first they have to know who is trying to pull the government's strings.
Cheers...Martin