When a homosexual couple go to a Christian baker for a wedding cake in the almost certain knowledge they will not get it, they are not so much interested in the cake as destroying the baker.
Similarly, if a homosexual applied to a small evangelical Christian college – the only one in Canada – to become a lawyer, knowing full-well he will be unable to attend because he is unwilling to sign a document agreeing to abstain from sex outside of heterosexual marriage, he is out to destroy the college not obtain a law degree. Aspiring homosexual lawyers won’t have to go through this inconvenience because Canada’s courts have done it for them.
The Supreme Court of Canada has decided not to accredit Trinity’s graduates, effectively preventing the law school from continuing to function.
As far as I know, no unmarried heterosexual couples are particularly upset about Trinity’s covenant, even though they are equally discriminated against.
Needless to say, no mainline protestant denominations have offered any support for Trinity Western. Quite the opposite: here is an article by Michael Coren, ex-evangelical, ex-Catholic, some would say ex-Christian and now an Anglican priest in training, supporting the decision.
For a saner view, go here:
The Supreme Court of Canada struck a brave blow on Friday for LGBTQ students who would be compelled to attend a proposed law school at Trinity Western University — a small, private, evangelical Christian school in Langley, B.C., whose “community covenant” prohibits sexual relations except among married men and women.
That is to say, they struck a blow for nobody.
“Students who do not agree with the religious practices do not need to attend,” former chief justice Beverley McLachlin wrote. “But if they want to attend, for whatever reason, and agree to the practices required of students, it is difficult to speak of compulsion.”
McLachlin was nevertheless part of the 7-2 majority upholding the British Columbia and Ontario law societies’ decision not to accredit Trinity’s graduates. The societies, as delegated wielders of government power, argued doing so would effectively grant the government’s imprimatur to the covenant and erect “inequitable barriers on entry to the profession”: there would be 60 more law school places available, and some would effectively be unavailable to LGBTQ students thanks to the covenant.
The court decided that was a reasonable application of the law societies’ mandates to oversee the legal profession.
And in so ruling they helped … nobody. Again. Indeed, they might just have killed Trinity Law before it ever admits a student — though Earl Phillips, head of the program, says he suspects there are “many options” available other than the obvious ones: abandoning either the covenant or the law school.
The implications of the ruling are potentially massive. “Canada has a tradition dating back at least four centuries of religious schools which are established to allow people to study at institutions that reflect their faith and their practices,” McLachlin wrote in her concurrence. Many have always admitted students of other faiths (or none), on the condition they respect institutional mores. Today many such institutions receive public money to teach elementary and secondary students. Yet the highest court in the land has decided it’s fine for a government actor to discriminate against grown men and women who want to assemble freely in an entirely private religious institution to learn the law.
It did so in a decision that’s sloppily argued and full of contradictions. Notably, it credits the law societies’ quest for a diverse legal profession without ever considering that an evangelical Christian law school would obviously contribute to that goal. And it veers wildly off the beaten path in an effort to downplay the obvious impingement on the Trinity Western community’s religious freedoms.
Surely the only people suffering actual discrimination are TWU’s graduates?
The West is Liberal meaning flexible, compromising add political correctness onto this as well
Then Trinity Law School starts well no wonder
Coren:”not because they are conservative Christians”. Disingenuous. Rather, as was debated on CBC’s ‘Carole MacNeil’ F. June 15/18, because either one is a Biblical Christian; or not. Coren’s Cultural Marxist summons of Holy Scripture by citing Jesus’ alleged omission of any teaching on homosexuality, or, indeed, of any other unamed sin, is more than clarified in:
+ Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I AM come to destroy the Law+, or the Prophets,I AM not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The Law:+ Leviticus 18; 20: Luke 17:20;28-37:
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot..even thus shall it be in The Day when The Son of Man is revealed…”
That Day is fast approaching.
A sad decision but one consistent with the protection and advancement of Canada’s new established religion – atheism – and consistent with the high priestly role of the Supreme Court of Canada in that endeavour.
Agreed.
We may hope for a change in federal government in 2019, but even if that were to happen, the bias of the Supreme Court and its determination to take over the legislative function, means that it would be almost impossible to hit the brakes. It would take many years to correct the imbalance in the court through new appointments, but even then the pool is so severely limited…
I think Christians simply need to get ready for a rough ride because this is only the beginning.
This decision clearly shows our courts are no longer interested in upholding true Christian values and are ready to accept anything else. I expect the oath one make in court using the Bible will no longer be acceptable. The judges and our governments that appoint them need to come to repentance and take a firm stand against that detestable “god of political expediency. It is bad enough to see that our government leaders have abandoned all moral standards but for the courts to do the same we are headed for anarchy.
It’s already starting to happen. If you take the witness stand, you have to request the Bible to put your hand on it. They don’t automatically offer it anymore.
Actually Frank, many courts more or less did. It is the Supreme Court of Canada that made this ruling.
I wonder what would happen if a graduate of Trinity School were to sue the law society for religious discrimination?
They would lose because the Supreme Court and the Law Societies are birds of a feather, predominantly liberal and deeply invested in keeping it that way.
I mostly like this blog but on this one it’s complete nonsense. Christians have the freedom to go to any law school in Canada–the same freedom that Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and leftist liberals all have. TWU is hurting religious freedom by developing a Christian ghetto–this ensures that no one ever meets Christians in the secular arena, and when we show up and express our opinion no one cares any longer. Christians, quite frankly, have become cowards. We don’t need our own teaching colleges, our own nursing schools, and our own law schools. We are talking about adults, not preschoolers. Adults who should by the age of 22 and older, who are entering a profession, should have the capability to stand firm in their faith. I think Christians are afraid their faith can’t hold water. Where have you all been hiding btw? I went to secular university and proudly proclaimed my beliefs in all kinds of situations–it wasn’t always easy but I certainly was not persecuted against. If Christians don’t exercise this freedom then we will lose it. Also, TWU demonstrates its complete and total lack of regard for Canada in wanting its own law school. The law belongs to all of Canadians, not just Christians. Do we want the Muslims to have their own law schools? the Jews? the Sikhs? Where does it end? I’m not sure TWU even understands what the law is. Likewise, many people do talk about the fact that TWU will take anyone, regardless of GPA–anyone who is willing to pay. This is creating an elitist backdoor entrance into the professions. In times where these jobs are in short supply we definitely need to make sure everyone has equal access–by equal access I mean in terms of finances–to pursue the career of their dreams. But come on: what type of person who wants to enter law can’t handle the public forum? I’m embarrassed to be a Christian, you have all become such cowards and so selfish. I also really resent constantly being asked to pray for TWU. TWU is filled with spoiled, entitled Christians. Why don’t we start praying for SFU, for UBC, for UVic? That’s what we are called to do, we are called to love our neighbours, to share the Gospel. Most Christians have no one to share the Gospel with these days because they go to Christian schools from cradle to grave–they never meet non-Christians, nor do they care to do so. Sorry, on this one you are creating your own persecution and also making Christians look stupid and silly. You are also risking the religious freedom we already have–we have the freedom to go to the best law schools in Canada. Seriously, live–be an adult and go to secular university and see if your faith actually can hold water! BTW, the profs at TWU more or less all went to secular universities, didn’t they? How do you think you grow and test your faith unless you actually test it?
Clearly your comment suggests that TWU is in error to have a solid Christian requirement for entrance to the university. That simply places you in the camp of society as a whole which has absolutely no moral standards of any kind where homosexual activity and other behaviour totally contrary to THE WORD is acceptable. Our society would be much more secure and free of illegal and criminal behaviour if our governments and courts would stand up to true Christian values.
TWU has every right to make adherence to specific moral standards mandatory for admittance.
Agreed. Judaeo-Christian ethos and ethics supplanted by Cultural Marxism by 1969 Omnibus Bill of Trudeau Liberal Government.
v. article at ‘LifeSiteNews’ where Jordan Peterson warns parents about the dangerous “indoctrination” to which University youth now are exposed; to which one adds, an even more harmful influence of this is in the Divinity Colleges and Seminaries – the ‘nurseries’, if you would, for the formation of a just and righteous public ethos and ethics. The jury is in on both counts.
What you are suggesting is that we have a Christian theocracy. This is not what Jesus came to establish–remember, His kingdom is not of this world? Christianity is not defined by attending a Christian school–Christianity is defined as believing in Christ. It’s like conservative Christianity has become cult like. Do you actually care about others hearing the Gospel? Do you care about others meeting Christians? How do you propose to have a Christian society with everyone hiding out over in teeny-tiny TWU? How is this all going to work? What you are looking for has already been tried with the battle of Munster–and really, you are in no position to judge me or my values or my morality. Shall we evaluate every immoral act you have done too? Jesus already talked about casting the first stone. It’s not us against them–it’s about following Christ. It’s about demonstrating grace and love and pointing others to the Gospel. I am saying that lawyers represent the Canadian law and thus need to be trained by a public law school as the law belongs to the public not to Christians alone. Do you value the freedom you have in Canada? Freedom is a two way street. I mean, I really don’t know why anyone would even want to attend TWU but to hide out from the “world”–why would you not want to get the best possible education offered in Canada? We are talking about lawyers–lawyers, they have to be able to handle some tough stuff, and yet you think these adults need to be sheltered in the TWU ghetto? BTW, sin is inherent in all of us–I heard someone say there’s no sin at TWU. That’s hilarious! I went to private Christian school for a time in high school–I saw way more sin there than at public school. Does TWU have some magic fairy dust that makes it heaven on earth? Like, seriously, what do you think will happen to a Christian adult in law school at a public university? I think your faith is not very strong. This is a sad day for Christianity because Christians are terrified of “others”–they have no love in their hearts, no grace, and no desire to share the Gospel–then they cry and moan and wonder why society doesn’t care about Christianity any longer. Christians will never, ever be influential in Canada again until they actually start participating in public life again. Don’t cry and moan and say “we’re being persecuted” when you don’t even try. I’ve shared my faith publicly in front of huge lecture halls filled with non-believers–is that immoral? I went around campus and shared the Gospel with Campus Crusade, was that immoral too? What did Jesus say, He said, “Go into all the world and make disciples.” You can’t “go” when you’re hiding out in the ghetto, and you know it.
A. I can partly agree with you, but only partly. The question is not whether TWU should or should not open a law school, or the wisdom or non-wisdom of any Christian attending, but whether they should have the right to. I certainly believe they should.
An article in the National Post says that the Supreme Court’s logic was that LGBTQ students would be unlikely to apply to TWU given the community-covenant requirement, so they effectively would have 60 fewer spaces available to them.” Well, they still have 60 fewer spaces, don’t they. This decision, when examined, shows completely flawed logic. Unfortunately, logic and flawed thinking is becoming rarer and rarer. Minority, “rights” are no longer just that, but a club to enforce conformity to a particular political agenda. No one was forcing any LGBTQ person to apply to TWU (I’m not sure that any did). Application to TWU, and therefore agreeing with the community covenant would have been completely voluntary. One certainly might suspect, as David said early in this post, that any LGBTQ person who might have applied to TWU’s law school, then taken them to court over their community covenant, might be suspected, not of sincerely desiring to acquire a law degree, as conspiring to destroy the school.
Having said that, I’m not sure such a covenant is entirely wise. Like you I wouldn’t be surprised to find that some number of the single, heterosexual students are not particularly abiding by it either. As one who is concerned with seeing others come to see the truth and reality of the Christian faith, I think the fewer barriers we put up to those outside the faith being open to hearing our message, the better.
No edit capability? I meant that unflawed thinking is becoming rarer.
Ask Bill Whatcott (‘National Post’, March 22, 2015), or Mary Gibson (recently released from prison) about Canada’s current ‘theocracy’:l’Etat c’est Marxist moi.
Or, ask the moderator of this blog and his persecuted fellow Bible believing Christians – now sans Church building; grace a his departing Grace of Hamilton/Niagara.
Yes, I feel very badly that you were kicked out of your buildings. I think that is wrong. But you see, aren’t you Anglicans? Aren’t you the plucky people? The people who didn’t give in to Hitler? who won the war? So, don’t waste your time on TWU which is a Christian ghetto. Get out there and be influential in the public sphere and truly change society by sharing the powerful Gospel. You know, where have you all been? And you know, most of the TWU grads I have encountered are arrogant milksops. Is this the type of Christian we want to create? They walk around saying out loud “TWU is the best and TWU grads are better than others” (for real, this has happened to me more times than I can count). Sorry, we’re Christians, we’re called to take the higher road. Kicked out of your building? It’s sad but you have to move on. Look at the liberal Anglicans, they are dying out–they are suffering the consequence of their own decision. Why not let God take care of the consequence to some degree? This whole debate is such a waste of time–and it’s not Biblical–who does the law belong to? it belongs to the government, even Jesus acknowledges this in the Bible. So, be a Christian, exercise your freedom of religion, and go to public law school like all the other big boys and girls (and in betweens). Be influential instead of wishing that you were.
On May 31, 2018, the US State Department listed Canada as one of the nations in violation of religious liberty:the law belongs to the people, vox populi, by the democratic means of its legislative representation…the House of Commons.
When ideological or Partisan judicial activism, which was the hallmark of the Obama Administration, and its related violations, as is being revealed in the House Judiciary Hearings re.the IG Report re. H. Clinton email, oppression, not liberty prevails; now being reversed with the Trump Administration…Cake case.
Closer to home: v. 2017 Acts & Proceedings (online) in the 20+ Overtures and Petitions (note the Biblical Chinese and Korean among them) to the144 General Assembly of the PCC…faithful Congregations seeking”gracious dismissal” from a now
falling because heretical to apostate denomination;some of the faithful refusing even to be buried within their
premises. 1843 redivivus.
Actually, non-Christians do attend TWU. Check out TWU’s charitable works too for all faiths sometime.
I would guess the only non-Christians attending TWU are those who couldn’t get into public universities (low GPA and willing to pay). Or, they are international students who will attend pretty much anywhere. We are all being played by TWU’s clever marketing–come get yourself a Christian education, come live in a sin free environment, we’ll be the “best” (according to us). By the time a person reaches 18 or 19 and enters post-secondary well, it’s time to toughen up and participate in general society. Again, do not cry and moan and say Christians have lost their influence and then treat TWU as if it’s the beacon for our faith. Now supporting TWU has become some type of moral measure or proof that a person is really a Christian–that sounds like a cult to me.
There is no perfect society on earth. We are living in a fallen world. Canada does offer its citizens many options, e.g. to attend a Christian institution or not, etc.
Dear Mr. Li, Canada is actually a pretty small country, population wise. Remember when Target came here and couldn’t make a go of it? That’s because we don’t have enough population to support that many options. Also, if we look at who invented universities, it’s Christians. So, universities are actually a Christian invention. Christians, I believe, have become lazy in their faith–too scared to take advantage of all the amazing educational options in this country. Scared and sulky, they prefer to hide out in the ghetto that is TWU. Have you been to TWU? It’s not a very impressive campus compared to public universities. Tiny library–run down buildings. Wouldn’t you rather grow strong in your faith and attend a first-rate university? SFU? UBC? UVic? Queen’s? Dalhousie?
When I received my university education, there were less than 30 universities in Canada. We have more choices some 60 years later. Some people prefer a smaller campus for their basic degree. In my own case, I attended a very small university before a big one for my second degree. In a small university, there is usually more interaction between students and instructors.
Fair enough–but many large universities have this thing called “seminars” which are small groups where you get to interact with the instructor (i.e. SFU). Living in the Valley here, I encounter lots of TWU grads. Listen, I would love to tell you that they’re peaches, that they’re the selfless examples of Christ, but they’re not. Most of them behave in a very arrogant way–they will come right up to your face and tell you they think they are better than you. (For reals.) Also, they only have eyes for other TWU grads. They are really, really, really into each other. Like, big time. Forget homosexuality, they have something perhaps even more advanced, like a TWU narcissism?
So, what do you think? Are these Christian TWU darlings really helping Christianity? We attend a local Anglican Church and even there it’s filled with TWU grads. They all sit around the same table and afix their gaze upon one another–you mention that you went to public university and their eyes glaze over and they have no interest whatsoever in you. This has happened to me so many times living here in the Fraser Valley that if I had $1 for each time I’d be pretty wealthy on that basis alone. TWU seems to be causing troubles for its own faith. What do you think? In the Valley you need to be Mennonite, Dutch. or have attended TWU in order to be a “Christian”–anyone outside those boxes is pretty much, you know, out of luck. Is this an effective way to grow the Church?
Now we get all cry and bemoan poor TWU that didn’t get its law school. Boo hoo! This is a school that seems to be allowing Christians to sink deeper and deeper into a black hole–we’re so deep in a hole it seems unlikely we will ever climb out to share the Gospel with our neighbours. How many Christian people even know their neighbours? or even want to know them? Time for a reality check: do we want a Christian law school or do we want to share the love of Christ? (PS: I have met a lot of TWU profs who will tell you that they feel many of their students are overly sheltered and have mental health problems. Also, fun fact, many TWU profs had to go to secular universities–so, are we like living in that movie “The Village”–only a select few are strong enough to go out there. . .) Between queer camps on the left, and the evangelical ghetto on the right, where is the common sense?