2 of 2

In a related court case, the EFC has intervened on behalf of a Toronto printer who refused a print job for a homosexual advocacy organization. The Ontario Human Rights Court fined Scott Brockie $5,000 for refusing to print the literature. Brockie says to do so would imply an endorsement of homosexual behavior. A coalition of Christian groups will argue for the right of business owners to refuse work that goes against their deeply held moral convictions.

The individual freedoms enshrined in Canada's Charter of Rights have been upheld, says Janet Epp Buckingham, legal counsel to the EFC, which intervened in the TWU case. The court's ruling, she says, means that "no one right under the Charter has priority over another."

"We really see this as a religious-freedom case, pure and simple," says Epp Buckingham, who describes the TWU victory as "the most important decision on religious freedom in years."

Spencer says that TWU is not intolerant. The school, she says, teaches that "Christianity is about love and respect."

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Online court records of The Supreme Court of Canada include the recent Trinity Western ruling. Also online are previous rulings from the B.C. Court of Appeal and the B.C. Supreme Court.

Trinity Western University posted a site for background and developments in the legal challenge. Highlights are an extensive timeline of the issue and essays on what was at stake.

The British Columbia College of Teachers issued online press releases in PDF form on the case.

The ruling was covered in Canadian newspapers including Vancouver Sun, The National Post, and The Globe and Mail.

A previous Globe and Mail article examined the TWU pledge.

The National Post argued that while a step in the right direction, this ruling is not the all-encompassing victory Canadians need to ensure true freedom of religion.

Canadian Christian publications ChristianWeek and B.C. Christian News also covered the decision and evangelicals' reaction to it.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and its British Columbian counterpart both supported TWU. EGALE supported the British Columbia Teacher's College.

Related Christianity Today articles on Trinity Western University include:

Canadian High Court May Curb Religious Freedom | Trinity Western University denied accreditation for saying homosexuality a sin. (May 16, 2000)

Trinity Western Accreditation Ordered | British Columbia Supreme Court approves school's application for accreditation. (Oct. 27, 1997)

Teachers Group Contests School's 'Sexual Sin' Policy | Province's accrediting agency denies certification because of school policy on homosexuality. (May 19, 1997)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

July 8 2001, Vol. 45, No. 9