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The New Prejudice
Protests against those receiving honorary doctorates show
a growing intolerance of anyone expressing opposition to celebration of
homosexuality.
Compiled by Janet Epp Buckingham | Posted 6/14/06
Dr. Margaret A. Somerville is a renowned ethicist. She
has degrees in both medicine and law. She is the founding director of the McGill
Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law. She has a long list of
publications in the field of bioethics, particularly genetics and the
rights of children. She has several honorary degrees in recognition of her
important contribution to the field of bioethics. Most
recently, Ryerson
University announced that it will grant her an honorary doctorate for
her contribution to the field of bioethics.
We cannot stand idly by and accept intolerance
against those who are being vilified for views that we share … . There is
something you can do …
This has raised the ire of many in Toronto's
gay community. They have started an on-line petition campaign to "disinvite"
Dr. Somerville. This is all because some of her views are politically
incorrect—she has raised concerns about the impact on the rights of
children in relation to legalizing same-sex marriage. Now, Somerville
is being accused of bigotry and homophobia, despite her writings in favour
of equal treatment for gays and lesbians.
Ryerson
University is also
being painted as bigoted and homophobic even though the university's
decision to honour Dr. Somerville has nothing to do with her stand on
marriage. A look at the other candidates for honorary degrees could also
refute this accusation: retired Senator Landon
Pearson, former Governor-General
Adrienne Clarkson, Buzz Hargrove (President of the Canadian Auto Workers
Union). This is a pretty politically-correct bunch. But it seems as though
Dr. Somerville, who has spoken out on an issue with which gays and lesbians
take issue is to be castigated, marginalized, vilified, and all her work
disregarded.
And it is not just Dr. Somerville who is facing
protests from members of the gay community. Rabbi Rueven Bulka is to receive an honorary doctorate
from Carleton University. Rabbi Bulka is a highly respected
leader in the Orthodox Jewish community in Ottawa.
The issue for the rabbi is that he is on the Advisory Board of the National Association of
Research and Therapy Homosexuality. NARTH believes that therapy can
assist those who wish to change their sexual orientation. This is, of
course, painted as being homophobic.
Rabbi Bulka is being honoured by the university for
"an outstanding career as a community leader and scholar, and as a
leading figure in humanitarian affairs." It has nothing to do with his
views on homosexuality.
And this is a Canada
that supposedly prides itself on "tolerance"? It seems this
tolerance is only for the politically correct.
Now some of you will remember that last year, Christians protested the University of Western Ontario's decision to award an
honorary doctorate to Dr. Henry Morgentaler. I protested this in my own way.
As an alumni of Western, I renounced my B.A. from the university.
Are we being hypocritical when the shoe is on the
other foot?
I see these as quite different. Morgentaler
was being honoured for his role in promoting abortion. My
complaint about his receiving an honorary doctorate was that he broke the
law in order to promote abortion. I do not believe this is an appropriate
role model for our young people.
Somerville and Bulka are not "anti-gay
activists." And they are not being honoured for their stand on
same-sex marriage. They are being honoured for their work—Somerville
for bioethics and Bulka for community leadership. Their stand on same-sex
marriage and homosexual therapy is quite secondary to their work. They are
therefore being vilified for their beliefs.
Many of
those receiving honorary doctorates at university graduations across Canada
support same-sex marriage. But we are not seeing the 50 percent of the
population that opposes same-sex marriage protesting recognition of their
work. Only those few candidates who have publicly questioned the
progressive orthodoxy are being protested.
This should concern us. These kinds of protests put a
chill on any public expression that is considered politically incorrect.
Only those whose views are the accepted orthodoxy will have any place in
the public square. We cannot stand idly by and accept intolerance against
those who are being vilified for views that we share. We should not accept
the double standard of prejudice and intolerance by the very people who are
promoting tolerance of their own identity.
There is something you can do to make your voice
heard. You can take a moment to sign an on-line petition in support
of Dr. Somerville. You can let Carleton
University know that
you support the doctorate they are awarding Rabbi Bulka (email [email protected]).
Janet Epp Buckingham is director of Law and Public
Policy and general legal counsel for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
in Ottawa
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