When You Know How Far Is Too Far

A MINISTRY MINUTE ~ Rev. Ross L. Riggs, D. Min.

The Supreme Court of Canada is scheduled to issue a ruling this year on a case that began in 1997 The Human Rights Tribunal versus Hugh Owens. Owens was charged in 1997 for “exposing homosexuals to hatred or ridicule.” The complaint stemmed from an advertisement taken out by Owens and published in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Under the original complaint the court fined Owens and the paper $9,000.00 which the Star-Phoenix paid but Owens appealed. In 2002 the Court of Queen’s Bench upheld his conviction and in 2006 the Court of Appeals reversed the decision. The ‘Human Rights Commission’ then appealed and that is how the case has gone to the Supreme Court. Now the decision is being readied by the Supreme Court fifteen years later.

What is the point of this story? First, we need to remember that the story here is: 1) true and 2) not an anomaly but it is becoming the rule and not the exception. The article that Mr. Owens wrote that was published in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix that cost the Star-Phoenix $9,000 and Mr. Owens fifteen years and who knows how much money in legal fees follows here: (this is an exact quote and is the complete advertisement)

                                        Romans 1:26

                                        Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13

                                        1 Corinthians 6:9[i]

Now we, as a society, can know how far is too far. If we want to know where the line is that we should never cross is to simply look behind us!