One of Canada’s largest Christian ministries dedicated to caring for the disabled was fined $23,000 recently by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for allegedly discriminating against a former homosexual employee.
Connie Heintz claimed discrimination against Christian Horizons after she said she was “subjected to a poisoned work environment” and pressured into quitting her job after she entered a homosexual relationship – which was in violation of her work contract back in 2000.
In line with its Christian foundation and principles, the ministry requires that all its employees sign “morality statements” vowing to abstain from immoral behavior, including pornography, pre-marital, extra-marital, and homosexual activity as a condition of employment.
In a recently made public ruling, Michael Gottheil, the single adjudicator representing the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, ruled against Christian Horizons, ordering the organization to pay Heintz $23,000 in fines plus two years wages and benefits.
Gottheil also ordered that the organization abandon its Christian principles barring homosexual behavior and issued mandates that it begin requiring all employees to attend a homosexual oriented “human rights training program.”
In a statement, Barbara Hall, the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, wrote approvingly of the decision by the tribunal.
"This decision is important because it sets out that when faith-based and other organizations move beyond serving the interests of their particular community to serving the general public, the rights of others, including employees, must be respected,” she said.
The Family Research Council (FRC), however, criticized the recent ruling as yet another attack in the worldwide effort to stamp out Christianity.
“It sounds unfair, yet this is the same rationale that's fueling the U.S. Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) debate. ENDA would mandate employer tolerance of all forms of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promotion, and many Christian-oriented businesses (such as bookstores and radio stations) may not be protected by the bill's limited religious exemption,” the FRC said in a statement.
John Jalsevac, of LifeSiteNews.com, also wrote incredulously of the ruling in a column.
“Connie Heintz wasn't even fired. She resigned. And, what is more, Heintz herself testified that her former boss at CH actually tried to help her find another job by providing her with listings of vacancies with other charities – hardly the actions of someone who is ‘homophobic,’” he wrote.
“In the world of the Commissions, dogmatic Christians are by definition the bigots,” he added.
Founded in 1965 by a group of Christian parents seeking to care for their disabled children, Christian Horizons is one of the largest organizations in Canada dedicated to caring for the disabled, receiving about $75 million annually through the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services.
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bcoontz, it may be that Nazism and Hitler twisted the Christian theism to suit their needs, however it is willfully ignorant or woefully dishonest to claim that this was atheistic. It is even a further stretch of reality to claim that atheism itself was to blame for the atrocities committed.
As pointed out this is a common double standard employed by theists. Atheists commit crimes and it is because they are atheist, and theists commit crimes, and they are not true theists? See the error in logic here?
Now I'm not claiming that Hitler committed his crimes in the name of the Christian god as did the Spanish in committing genocide in South America with the blessing of the Catholic church, but it is simply not true that either Hitler or his party were atheistic. Perhaps they did twist the Christian theism, but IMHO all churches twist theism to suit their needs or desires.
dbrydges, you would more rightly characterize what Hitler did as infiltrating the church in Germany and twisting its' teaching to advance his "final solution". Him labeling it "Positive Christianity" doesn't mean that it was Christianity. His actions proved that he was anythiing but Christian.
wow, inappropriate comment. Was it because I said Mao and Stalin were not true atheists, or because I presented facts that show Nazi Germany had a Christian State Religion that they called "Positive Christianity" and that Hitler himself was definitely not an atheist (he dabbled in paganism and occultism)? OR maybe because I pointed to the fact the Nazism is often referred to as atheistic as a common Christian lie?
This is just further evidence that Christians would like nothing more than to stifle contrary opinion. Too bad that Canada is becoming an increasingly secular society with less tolerance for religious beliefs as the justification for bigotry and hatred.
I didn't even get into how religion has historically been used to successfully commit genocide with the full support and even the funding of organized religious institutions. You Christians are awfully sensitive. Just wait until the evangelical atheists start knocking on your doors to give out their literature. Then you will undoubtedly be apoplectic.
Why should the ministry be fined if they have Christian rules and the lady signed them she didn't have to sign if she didn't believe in them. This is wrong as is the hate crime is targeted for one group. There's only one way our country is going to survive and that is vote for a Godly man that wants to keep our constitution and bring back moral values.
http://www.alankeyes.com/pledge.php?signers=1
Pastors backing candidates that support abortion. All the killings, rape, robbery, porn, indecent exposure and you wonder what's wrong NOT TO HARD TO SEE.
This is only the beginning. We are living in the last days. Jesus is coming soon. And the true Church is going to be persecuted for it's biblical stand.
But understand this, When a person, or a group, or a nation attempts to destroy the wittness of God's people, They are coming against God Himself.
Canada and America are about to face the judgement of God. Get ready Church, For one day soon were gonna be leaving.
Hey I was censored here, These guys are trouble. The Homosexual movement do not want peace they want domination. They silence people like Islam, once seduced there is no leaving, See the APA news.
dbrydges said
"Atheism and religion are not even comparable in terms of the scope of human suffering they have caused."
This is true... I think of the suffering caused by Hitler, Stalin, Mao and it goes beyond the scope of the damage of any religion (even those I do not agree with). The difference is that many, out of religious belief, also help and minister and care for others, but athiests tend to ignore that.
This is just my guess but I bet more people have been healed and cared for in the arms of Christians (and other faiths) than killed in the 7% of all wars that were religious in nature, and probably in all wars combined.
The problem is that you are lumping the religion with the actions caused by those who misinterpret or misuse them. It is as wrong to blame the Crusades on Christanity as it is the Holocost on athiesm.
Athiesm, when taken to the belief there is no value to human life because we are just another animal, supports ideas like abortion, infanticide, euthenasia (for any reason) and taken to its logical conclusion - there is nothing moral except that which the individual decides is moral. It has no moral basis because it has no underlying foundation except that one exists.
dbrydges, not true. The 20th Century was the single worst century for murders/genocide and those regimes that denied God were responsible for the devastation. Lenin, Hitler, and Stalin alone killed more than 100 million people. Communism is as athiestic a form of government as has appeared to date. Finally, those people who commited the atrocities that you address did so in violation of Christ's teachings, not in obedience to them.
::begin quote::
I am bitter against the self-righteous religious folk who have used their beliefs in myths to justify murder, hatred, and bigotry since the dawn of time.
::end quote::
That's interesting....because i'm sure there has never been a large atheistic group who have done those things... ::cough:: communists ::cough:: excuse me, i had a frog in my throat.
When we get right down to it, whether a group is religious or non-religious, or has faith in something or faith in nothing. Humans use whatever is at their disposal to commit terrible acts.
In fact the very bitterness you now possess could theoretically spawn one of those acts themselves. It's important for you to become as objective as possible.
dbridges,
TRUE christians would never persecute and burn heathens who would not convert, the word of GOD is clear on that, if you took the time to read and study GOD'S word you would understand that- generalizations like that only serve to anger and alienate people-that is simply stirring up trouble, as a free canadian myself I have never been under religious tyranny- I don't know what happened to you but you seem very bitter and angry, you have my prayers- if that means anything to you, IN JESUS NAME
I'm sure most people here would like nothing more than to ban atheism and agnosticism. Back to the good old days where Christians would come together in love to persecute and burn the heathens. Now that the shoe is on the other foot and that Christians are having to defend their position, they are simply reaping what they have sown for generations. It almost seems like a form of natural justice, I wonder if it is divinely inspired.
" It is high time we cast off the religious tyranny the we as free Canadians have been subject to for generations."
Agreed, on one condition, atheism and agnosticism is banned as well, any person engaging in such beliefs will be imprisoned. (I have no problem being imprisoned for my faith)
=O)
I am very pleased with this ruling. It is a victory for the individual right to be free of discrimination over the justification of bigotry in the guise of religious freedom. It is high time we cast off the religious tyranny the we as free Canadians have been subject to for generations. And our society continues to become more progressive and more liberal, this is just the beginning, and it is beautiful.
Obama and Hillary have already vowed to pass ENDA which will have the same impact in our own laws, nullifying religious freedom of beliefs.
Brethren,
Please pray for my country as we are but a reflection of your society also, IN JESUS NAME
i find humor in the fact that every time there is a legal debate in any article... someone quotes an online site or a christian group. what about real, legal analysists? pro-constitution and pro-legal rights experts? so.... what does Mr. John Jalsevac, of LifeSiteNews.com's words have to do with a country's legal tactics?....
Quote: <<"we" just want the guaranteed rights of the people who elected to keep church and state seperate, regularly enforced. >>
Its a sad day whyen people think they can separate their beliefs from their actions, and it shows a lack of understanding of basic human nature. Your foundational beliefs guide/direct your actions. IF you believe that God is to be worshipped and obeyed above all else, that will affect how oyu live life and the choices you make. If you believe the state is to be obeyed before all else, then that will affect your life and the choices you make.
There is no separation of beliefs and actions. Therefore, there can be no separation of Church and State without ensuring there is no one who believes in God invovled in the State. And I believe that time is coming.
You know, we all want to hide our heads in the sand, but let's admit it. The persecution of Christians in the West has begun. This is the first stage. You can be sure that within the next twenty years, you will see this persecution - done through the legal system and backed by militant homosexuals and atheists along with their allies in radical Islam - continue and accelerate.
Christians better start learning their Bibles and memorizing them. Won't be long before they start going after Bible publishers for publishing "hate speech"...
"This is a case of legal tyranny. Now the government wants to be the spokesperson for God and is publically demanding to be the CHURCH OF CANADA. Very soon, just as at Babylon in the days of Daniel, they will require that all citizens bow down unto the golden image their king had erected as the god of the land....opps ..... it sounds like they are already trying to erect such a idol. Maybe this is the harlotry of babylon spoken of in the book of Revelations about the last days." - H. M. Harrell, Jr
http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."
Canada does not have the US Constitution. It is part of the British commonwealth. We all know this. Simply put you cannot serve two masters. This is why many US ministries do not accept money from the government. If they do they create a seperate organization to protect the church from this type of thing.
Truth be known, there are enough Christians to fund this type of thing if we took loving our neighbor as ourself. There was a Christian musician named Keith Green that once said there reason we have welfare in the USA is because the church has failed in its obligation to the gospel. The same can be said for Canada. The government is involved with this sort of thing because we as a church involve them.
The government has the power to tax. This makes church folk give the money they should to help the poor. Maybe if we just gave it to our churches and our churches used the money to help the poor then the government wouldn't have any need to be involved.
FWIW, I found a very succint blogger who summed up his sentiments on the subject very nicely in my opinion...
"Standard — if potentially illegal — human resources techniques of forcing an employee from a job by creating a poisoned work environment and setting up ”conditions” for eventual dismissal hardly strike one as Christian, and it is perhaps surprising an organization that so aggressively bills itself as upholding Christian morality would countenance such behaviour, which is essentially deceitful and fraudulent. There is then the larger irony of an organization like Christian Horizons, which according to its own mission statement is run with the admirable view to helping the marginalized, would so persecute a member of another marginalized group, in the name of Christian love." http://straydogcafe.wordpress.com/
<<It doesn't change the fact that a contract was signed (and presumably read by the plaintive before signing), but if we are to follow the law, then we should follow it as best we can, but only as we hold to God's commandments to us.>>
Christian Horizons did not respect rights of the plaintiff while it was operating within its private sphere(before it began accepting state funds,) however When CH became an agent of state policy it lost its ability to resist state morality. Christian Horizons is an organization that has a history of human rights complaints and has rigorously defended its discriminatory policies in the past by saying it recognizes society's laws but it also must obey God's laws.
DannyPoo said,
<<Certainly I can see the State deciding they will not fund this Organization, that's the states choice. However I doubt that would be the case because of the enourmous good this group does.>>
The good or bad this company does isn't what's on trial. They are on trial and lost a lawsuit because they accept state funds yet they are guilty of discrimination in a state which penalizes businesses which break the anti-discrimination law. This company must comply with the law or jeopardize it's STATE funding. It would be a shame to see it close, because the result could be many disabled children and their parents will be inconvenienced. However, laws are laws.
<<The way the State law is set up however, requires this Religious organization to go against their beliefs.>>
Don't you think they knew the laws against discrimination? They are after all required to fill out many forms in order to receive funding- governments don't just hand out money without proper filing of legal documents.
<<If the state doesn't like it they could simply reject their non-profit status and stop funding them, but instead of doing that they enact a law that forces a modifcation of a Religious belief.>>
This is an ethical question raised about penalizing DISCRIMINATION. It is not a state enforced modification of religious beliefs. Freedom of religion doesn't apply only to Christians, it also protects those who don't want religion. Instead of Christian Horizons being a discrimination based business, it will have to examine it's policies if it wants to generate and receive state funds.
<<It's a heavy injustice, enacted by those who are intolerant of Christian beliefs. In the name of Tolerance, they have become Intolerant. >>
What if some other random state supported non-profit harrassed it's Christian employees just for being who they are, made them sign a waiver that they will not allow any talk of religion, crosses, tee-shirts which espouse their beliefs etc, and made the work environment intolerant for the Christians? Wouldn't you want justice for the person who is being discriminated and victimized in this instance? I would, fair is fair.
>> It's not a kick in the "you know what" for companies who accept millions of dollars in STATE FUNDING to be required to comply with the STATES laws. <<
STATE FUNDING ... That had crossed my mind, and I had made an assumption that it was not the case, BUT assuming it's true, I'll concede to that and say that it's a good point for the case. It doesn't change the fact that a contract was signed (and presumably read by the plaintive before signing), but if we are to follow the law, then we should follow it as best we can, but only as we hold to God's commandments to us.
Keep in mind, a time will be coming where civil disobedience will be unavoidable, just for Christians to be able to preach God's Word.
The Human Rights Commission have become a meanace to Canadians because they behave as though they are "Judge, Jury and Executioner". They have unchecked power and have been in the news recently for another of this 'type' of decison making. They are a dangerous, completly biased group, who make ruling's on next to no evidence because they are accountable to no one.
They DO NOT represent the large majority of people's views in Canada, and are a total embarrassment and a disgrace to the country!!!
::begin quote::
FWIW, it is after all a company, and it's revenues are generated from the Ministry of Community and Social Services- in the USA, if an organization, company, or a non profit business receives STATE funding, they must abide by the state laws, not the "laws" of Christianity- it's a FACT that I'm sure aggrivates those whose goals are related to discrimination and disenfranchizing others.
::end qutoe::
Certainly I can see the State deciding they will not fund this Organization, that's the states choice. However I doubt that would be the case because of the enourmous good this group does.
The way the State law is set up however, requires this Religious organization to go against their beliefs.
If the state doesn't like it they could simply reject their non-profit status and stop funding them, but instead of doing that they enact a law that forces a modifcation of a Religious belief.
It's a heavy injustice, enacted by those who are intolerant of Christian beliefs. In the name of Tolerance, they have become Intolerant.
<<The kick in the you-know-where is that they want to foist this misguided logic upon everyone who might want to provide help as well. They don't just want God expelled from the schools and courthouses, they want him expelled from our hearts.>>
It's not a kick in the "you know what" for companies who accept millions of dollars in STATE FUNDING to be required to comply with the STATES laws.
BTW, noone wants to see God expelled from your hearts, "we" just want the guaranteed rights of the people who elected to keep church and state seperate, regularly enforced.
<<Your comparison is that of a Company. This is a Christian Ministry, not a corporation. A secular Company should not fire for something "sinful" that does not effect or involve their job duties.>>
Ministries that accept STATE funding, are companies, corporations, organizations etc. and whether or not it is a religious based nonprofit, it's still a company, corporation, organization etc.
From the article,
"In a statement, Barbara Hall, the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, wrote approvingly of the decision by the tribunal.
This decision is important because it sets out that when faith-based and other organizations move beyond serving the interests of their particular community to serving the general public, the rights of others, including employees, must be respected,” she said."
and,
"Christian Horizons is one of the largest organizations in Canada dedicated to caring for the disabled, receiving about $75 million annually through the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services."
To a company with an annual STATE sponsored $75 million, Christian Horizons can obviously pay out this loss.
FWIW, it is after all a company, and it's revenues are generated from the Ministry of Community and Social Services- in the USA, if an organization, company, or a non profit business receives STATE funding, they must abide by the state laws, not the "laws" of Christianity- it's a FACT that I'm sure aggrivates those whose goals are related to discrimination and disenfranchizing others.
This is why Christians should oppose all laws that attempt to add protections to "sexual orientation" or "gender idenity" that fail to provide adequate protections as far as exemptions. Many of these laws provide exemptions for "bona-fide religious institutions". Unfortunately this generally only covers Parochial schools and the actual churches themselves. There are no exemptions for faith based non-profit groups, or faith based groups not affiliated with a denomination.
How do I know this? I serve on a Human Rights Commission in my local city.
You might wonder what happened when these "protections" were passed in my city. It just so happens that many of the Commissioners were sympathetic towards my complaint, however they said those exemptions would "come with time".
What that means I don't know, I think they assume that exemptions will just appear out of thin air without it in the legal code. It would be more intelligent and remove the objections of Christians like myself, to simply give the appropriate exemptions in the first place.
Oh, Canada......
>> "This decision is important because it sets out that when faith-based and other organizations move beyond serving the interests of their particular community to serving the general public, the rights of others, including employees, must be respected,” <<
This is so typical of the pluralist world view. "We acknowledge that you provide charity and good works to people who need it, in the name of whatever god or gods you believe in, but we don't want you to give anything to THEM, unless it's on OUR terms."
The ones making these decisions don't understand anything about Christianity. I pray to our Lord that they may, someday before it's too late for them. But right now, Barbara Hall et al have their own false gods ... money (to provide their own high-end health care) and power; the power to make decisions which compromise the integrity and grace of what God's people want to give through their ministry.
The slap in the face is the fact that they are rewarding this Connie Heintz for betrayal to her benefactor (probably a better word out there, but since they payed her, I'll leave it). She signed a contract ... If a right-handed person signs a contract with their left, do they think it's invalidated at their convenience?
The kick in the you-know-where is that they want to foist this misguided logic upon everyone who might want to provide help as well. They don't just want God expelled from the schools and courthouses, they want him expelled from our hearts.
Praise be to JESUS CHRIST! Praise be to GOD in the highest! May HIS Word ring throughout the world.
dgrills,
Don't feel that way in comparison to anyone else. Every nation on the earth, including the U.S. is in the same downward spiral. Australia spins the other way, though :^)
God Bless.
I remember singing "God Save the Queen" as a child born in Canada. I am embarassed by my homeland and sorrowful for the moral "flushing sound" I am hearing.
Understanding that Canada in mere years ahead of the U.S. in the drive for all-encompassing secularism and "social justice", recognize what you are seeing will be America's future.
2Ti 3:1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."
2Ti 3:13-14 "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]"
Maranatha!
::begin quote::
ShuckCreations: Do you think companies should be able to fire people who get a divorce? Or those that get remarried? What about the obese? These things are all sinful. If the answer is "no" then you are a giant hypocrite.
::end quote::
Your comparison is that of a Company. This is a Christian Ministry, not a corporation. A secular Company should not fire for something "sinful" that does not effect or involve their job duties.
However a Christian Ministry has a right to set it's own terms.
ShuckCreations: Do you think companies should be able to fire people who get a divorce? Or those that get remarried? What about the obese? These things are all sinful. If the answer is "no" then you are a giant hypocrite.
"ENDA would mandate employer tolerance of all forms of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promotion, and many Christian-oriented businesses (such as bookstores and radio stations)"
Oh fantastic!! So if they wanted to they could shove their sinful beliefs in our faces and get a job at my local Lifeway bookstore just to spite us. Oh how our world is crumbling beneath our feet.