by arthur Weinreb, associate Editor,
May 14, 2004
In a pre-election poll commissioned by the federal Liberals, respondents were asked if they would vote for the Conservative Party if they knew that the Tories had been taken over by Evangelical Christians. The only surprise about the Liberals asking that type of question was that many people seemed to be surprised that the party of tolerance and diversity would ask such a question.
a government spokesman even unapologetically admitted that it was a push poll — one that was not designed to measure responses to questions but whose sole purpose was to plant the idea that the Conservatives are led by a bunch of religious zealots.
a lot of reports in the Liberal-friendly media made the point that Prime Minister Paul Martin is a devout Catholic. This observation seems to stem only from the fact that Martin tries to go to church every Sunday no matter where he is. But does regular church attendance necessarily make him devout?
Without going into what makes a person devout or not, the history of the prime minister who is absolutely devoid of any original thought must be examined. Martin holds an undergraduate degree in philosophy because his father, Paul Martin Sr. took that subject in university. although Junior never practiced law or gave any indication that he wished to, he has a law degree because his father had one. Martin joined the Liberal Party while in university because he was asked to by student Liberals who wanted him as a member because his father was a Liberal cabinet minister. This son of a career politician ran for office only after being persuaded to do so by a group of young Liberals who were disenchanted with Pierre Trudeau in the early 80s. Martin sought the leadership of the Liberals because his father had wanted to become the party’s head.
all that can be gleaned from Paul Martin’s weekly church attendance is that his father was undoubtedly a devout Catholic. It is hard to believe than any Christian who is committed to his faith, would engage in the kind of Christian-bashing that Martin and his underlings practice.
Often when politicians whose oppose abortion on religious grounds are asked the question they respond that they are personally opposed to abortion but have no plans to change the status quo. Not our Paul. The PM said that he is against abortion because of his religious views but he also believes in the Charter of Rights that has been interpreted as allowing it. Those Canadians who are anti-american because they feel inferior to our neighbours to the south will be happy to know that Paul Martin could teach presidential candidate John Kerry a thing or two about being on both sides of an issue.
This is not the first time that the Liberals have attacked or made fun of Evangelical Christians. In the 2000 election campaign, the party sent their former pit Chihuahua, Warren Kinsella, on television with a stuffed dinosaur to make fun of then Canadian alliance leader Stockwell Day’s religious beliefs. The party of tolerance and diversity has no qualms about attacking someone’s religious beliefs if they think that it will benefit the Natural Governing Party. They would gladly bash religious Muslims and Jews if they figured it would help them and they could get away with it. But in the land of tolerance, Christians are fair game. as they have shown time and time again from their handling of public monies to their ridiculing peoples’ religious beliefs, the rules that apply to regular people do not apply to them.
at least former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, also a Catholic, did not allow himself to be portrayed as devout. although he would like us to forget it, Paul Martin spent 10 years in the government of a man who lists one of his finest moments as keeping God out of a ceremony to honour the victims of 9/11. Unlike Martin, at least when Chrétien was faced by criticism, he never looked into the camera with a blank stare and denied that the offending act had anything to do with him.
The implication that the Conservative Party of Canada is run by a bunch of crazy Evangelicals should make Canadians who put any value on religion, religious freedom and tolerance think twice before voting the Liberals back in the next election. Unfortunately, it’s not likely to make much difference.
as far as the Liberals go, their religion consists of only two beliefs. They believe in God and they believe that God is a Liberal.
and come to think of it--the Home Hardware logo would look so much better on Reg than it would on a stamp.