Dobson editing radio show to avoid hate crimes laws
Focus
working to meet demands of 'human rights laws'
Posted:
March 28, 2008
10:00 pm Eastern
Dr. James Dobson
who is Worth Tens of Millions, demonstrates that the hold his vast wealth
and empire he has built is worth more to him than preaching the unvarnished
truth across Canadian Air waves, and bearing whatever fines and punishment
they deem to dole out against him. Instead of standing up to the Canadian
tribunal over the issue of freedom of speech and freedom of religion and the
multi-millionaire Dr. Dobson (millions he has made off his Christian followers)
being a true advocate for Canadian Christians and their households in a great
hour of need. – He and his staff can not move fast enought to edit and cleanse
his messages of any references to homosexuality, Islam, or anything else that
the word of God speaks out against that might come to cost him money. Doctor
James Dobson seeks only prestige in the eyes of his peers, rather than speaking
the truth in the Word of God.
We fully expect that many other ministries that have entered into the "big time" and earned untold millions are doing the very same thing at this time. These things are a great testimony before God and men in whom and what these ministries truly trusting, and have staked their claim.
I thank God
for this visible separation of sheep and goats, wheat and tares, the clean
and the unclean for all to see and hear.
By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
"Hate crimes" laws were defeated in Congress just
a few months ago. Just a few weeks ago, Frank Wright of the National Religious Broadcasters Association warned,
"We must be one in Christ to face the days ahead" because "hate
crimes" laws would create untold new liability for Christians.
Now a major Christian ministry
has confirmed that such "hate crimes" laws already are setting limits
on what it can broadcast.
The issue is "hate crimes" laws in
WND reported
just a week ago on a Christian ministry based in
So what used to be called MacGregor
Ministries with offerings in how to recognize and eliminate "faulty fads"
in Christian churches has been re-created in the
"
She said the ministry points out the differences between
Christianity and various cult beliefs, but also with respect, and never as
a proponent. She said the work always is in response to a question or issue.
"When a group such as Jehovah's Witnesses said of our
doctrine we're worshipping a freakish three-headed God (the Trinity), we should
be able to respond," she said. "We say, 'Here's the doctrine of
the Trinity and here is where it is in the Scripture.'"
That, however, violates
"There was nothing we could do that would please them,"
she said. "They wanted us every time we criticized something to say,
'So Christianity is equal to Buddhism, Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses…
Just decide for yourself.'"
"We cannot do that," she said of the work she and
her husband, Keith, have spent their lives assembling.
Now comes confirmation from the Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, one of the largest
Christian publishing
and broadcasting organizations in the nation, that it has been reviewing,
and if necessary editing, its broadcasts to avoid complications with Canadian
"hate crimes" laws.
In a statement attributed to Gary Booker, director of global
content creation for Focus, the organization confirmed that broadcast standards
have a "dynamic nature."
"Our staff at Focus
on the Family Canada works proactively to stay abreast of the dynamic
nature of broadcast standards, Canadian Revenue Agency legislation and both
national and provincial human rights laws," the statement said.
"Parameters regarding what can be said (and how it should
be said) are communicated by Focus on the Family Canada to our content producers
here at Focus on the Family in the
"In particular, our content producers are careful not
to make generalized statements nor comments that may be perceived as ascribing
malicious intent to a 'group' of people and are always careful to treat even
those who might disagree with us with respect. Our Focus on the Family content
creators here in the
"Occasionally, albeit very rarely, some content is identified
that, while acceptable for airing in the U.S. would not be acceptable under
Canadian law and is therefore edited or omitted in Canada," Focus said.
Focus broadcasts programs on thousands of radio stations
across the continent, publishes dozens of magazines and newsletters
and provides a wide range of other resources to Christian families and churches.
Wright had told the NRB that the
The subject of homosexuality, specifically, was provided
protections in the
WND
previously reported when the the Canadian Family Action Coalition confirmed activists
who claim they have "hurt feelings" are demanding and getting penalties
imposed against those who oppose the homosexual lifestyle.
"We today have a major national magazine, a federal
political party leader and a registered political party, a major Catholic
newspaper (Catholic Insight) and an internationally renowned journalist all
of whom are being investigated by appointed 'hate speech therapists' from
the commissions," the group said.
The journalist is Mark Steyn, according
to CFAC spokesman Brian Rushfeldt, and the newest
case involves
The publication has been told it is being targeted by a complaint
from
They are set up to take action if anything "indicates
discrimination" or "is likely to expose to hatred or contempt."
Rushfeldt noted that Alberta's
provincial law, for example, orders: "No person shall publish, issue
or display or cause to be published, issued or displayed before the public
any statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation
that (a) indicates discrimination or an intention to discriminate against
a person or a class of persons, or (b) is likely to expose a person or a class
of persons to hatred or contempt bcause of the race,
religious beliefs, colour, gender, physical disability, mental disability, age,
ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income or family status
of that person or class of persons."
"You see if my feelings are hurt and I feel discriminated
against due to my 'religious orientation' then surely I must have a right
and entitlement to have an appointed group of people in the Human Rights Commission
at taxpayers' expense, intervene and force the activist to pay me compensation
for my feelings. This is really not bullying is it? Or is it more like extortion?"
said a commentary by the Family Action organization.
"How can I prove my feeling are hurt? I don't need to
prove it. I just say it is so and it is so. Do I need to provide truth? No,
not under the functions of the Human Rights Act. … Section 3(1) states
that if something 'indicates discrimination' and 'is likely to expose to hatred
or contempt' is a basis for action."
Similar restrictions have been found valid for broadcasting,
officials said. And websites and books also will have to be edited, since
those were the primary issue affecting MMOutreach
when it used to operate in
"They said if we were just preaching our own Gospel,
and weren't criticizing anybody else, we could continue," Mrs. MacGregor
told WND in the earlier case. "If you're going to defend the Gospel,
you've got to criticize sometimes."
For example, the ministry addresses the issue of "fads,"
including a "creeping Eastern mysticism" appearing in some churches,
"turning meaningful prayer meetings
into mind-emptying rituals called contemplative prayer promising experiences
of a spiritual nature."
"Feelings have often replaced the solid word of God,"
their website warns.
Mrs. MacGregor told WND the government
ultimatum was that she would have to preach that "all religions are equal,"
but she could not work within such restrictions.
"We wrote on Feb. 7 and voluntarily revoked our [license]
ourselves," she said. "We said this auditor requires us to compromise
our Christian faith, which we cannot do."
"You're not allowed in
The
The immediate concern – and still unresolved worry – expressed
by Christian radio broadcasters, ministers and others was: If someone attacks
a homosexual, will those speaking against homosexuality also be charged for
inciting violence?