OTTAWA – NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair lashed out at evangelical Christian groups Monday, accusing them of going “completely against” Canadian values and law with their beliefs about homosexuality.
Mulcair’s anger spilled over when reporters asked about Crossroads Relief and Development – a group that’s received $389,000 from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to build wells and provide clean water to 11,000 people Uganda.
Crossroads has called homosexuality a sin, a belief the NDP connects to anti-gay violence in Uganda and a stalled Ugandan bill to prohibit gay rights promotion.
“We don’t understand how the Conservatives can … subsidize a group in Uganda whose views are identical to those of the Ugandan government,” Mulcair said.
This is a remarkable statement; he seems to be saying that Canada should only be supporting people in Uganda who oppose the government. Isn't that supporting insurrection in a sovereign state?
Mulcair's statement is troublesome for another reason. The views of government and media toward homosexuality have changed dramatically in the last 2 decades. Evangelical Christians believe the same thing they believed 2000 years ago; the same thing Canadians believed from it's first European settlement until the end of the last century - homosexuality is sin!
The Canadian media's 100% about face on the subject is shaping the opinions of Canadians and leading us down the garden path. It is based on untruths - gays are born gay; and it is based on a singular hatred for anything genuinely Christian - especially Evangelicals.
This is a shot across the bow of the good ship evangelical, and is a sign of the full barrage awaiting us should the SS NDP be permitted to pull alongside.
It’s not clear how Mulcair drew that conclusion.
Crossroads’ water project partner group in Africa, Victory Outreach Ministries, states on its website that while homosexuality is sinful, gays are “created in God’s image, and we condemn the activities of those who are violent towards gays.”
The CCRF called on Mulcair to apologize in the House to traditionally-minded Christians across Canada.
Spokesman for the Canadian Council for Religious Freedom, Father Geoffrey Korz, expressed concern over Mulcair’s attempt to perpetuate a stereotype of Canadian evangelical Christians.
“One can only imagine if Mr. Mulcair called Canadian Muslims ‘terrorists’, made a slur about Sikh turbans, or attacked the financial integrity of Jewish Canadians. Such statements are unbecoming of the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition,” he said.
Don Hutchinson, with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, said Mulcair should know the Supreme Court has ruled religious beliefs don’t disqualify Canadians from engagement with government.
He adds that Canadian evangelicals have spent more than $535 million on development work overseas.
“When you work with organizations that function on the ‘love your neighbour’ principle, you get a better return on your dollar,” he said.
CIDA has frozen another $156,000 in Crossroads funding until it can review the organization’s work.
A government source told QMI Agency the review is to ensure Crossroads isn’t denying aid to Ugandans based on sexual orientation.
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| Current Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair could become Prime Minister after the October federal elections |
Crossroads has called homosexuality a sin, a belief the NDP connects to anti-gay violence in Uganda and a stalled Ugandan bill to prohibit gay rights promotion.
“We don’t understand how the Conservatives can … subsidize a group in Uganda whose views are identical to those of the Ugandan government,” Mulcair said.
This is a remarkable statement; he seems to be saying that Canada should only be supporting people in Uganda who oppose the government. Isn't that supporting insurrection in a sovereign state?
Mulcair's statement is troublesome for another reason. The views of government and media toward homosexuality have changed dramatically in the last 2 decades. Evangelical Christians believe the same thing they believed 2000 years ago; the same thing Canadians believed from it's first European settlement until the end of the last century - homosexuality is sin!
The Canadian media's 100% about face on the subject is shaping the opinions of Canadians and leading us down the garden path. It is based on untruths - gays are born gay; and it is based on a singular hatred for anything genuinely Christian - especially Evangelicals.
This is a shot across the bow of the good ship evangelical, and is a sign of the full barrage awaiting us should the SS NDP be permitted to pull alongside.
It’s not clear how Mulcair drew that conclusion.
Crossroads’ water project partner group in Africa, Victory Outreach Ministries, states on its website that while homosexuality is sinful, gays are “created in God’s image, and we condemn the activities of those who are violent towards gays.”
The CCRF called on Mulcair to apologize in the House to traditionally-minded Christians across Canada.
Spokesman for the Canadian Council for Religious Freedom, Father Geoffrey Korz, expressed concern over Mulcair’s attempt to perpetuate a stereotype of Canadian evangelical Christians.
“One can only imagine if Mr. Mulcair called Canadian Muslims ‘terrorists’, made a slur about Sikh turbans, or attacked the financial integrity of Jewish Canadians. Such statements are unbecoming of the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition,” he said.
Don Hutchinson, with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, said Mulcair should know the Supreme Court has ruled religious beliefs don’t disqualify Canadians from engagement with government.
He adds that Canadian evangelicals have spent more than $535 million on development work overseas.
“When you work with organizations that function on the ‘love your neighbour’ principle, you get a better return on your dollar,” he said.
CIDA has frozen another $156,000 in Crossroads funding until it can review the organization’s work.
A government source told QMI Agency the review is to ensure Crossroads isn’t denying aid to Ugandans based on sexual orientation.
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