WOE CANADA! Margaret Somerville condemned for opposing same-sex "marriage"
Margaret Somerville is an incredible advocate for vulnerable persons in Canada. She has written and spoken eloquently concerning issues of euthanasia/assisted suicide and issues surrounding reproductive technologies which threaten the dignity of all human life, especially vulnerable persons.
Margaret is receiveing an award for her work at the graduation ceremony at Ryerson University in Toronto on June 19. We need to commend Ryerson for recognizing Margaret as the intellectual leader that she has deservedly become.
There is a major protest that has been organized against Margaret Somerville due to her position opposing the changes to the marriage laws which redefined marriage to include same-sex relationships.
There is also a petition campaign opposing her being awarded.
Please send an email to the President of Ryerson [email protected] expressing your support for their choice of Margaret Somerville
The Toronto Star - June 15, 2006
Ryerson sticks by award for ethicist
Panel says it respects academic freedom
School union, gay groups plan protests
By Daniel GirardA Montreal ethicist strongly opposed to same-sex marriage will receive an honorary degree from Ryerson University next week even though "many of us disagree strongly" with her opinions, says the committee responsible for the controversial choice. Amid demands to rescind the honour for Margaret Somerville and plans to protest Monday's ceremony at the downtown Toronto campus, the awards and ceremonial committee of the university's academic council decided at a Tuesday meeting it cannot do so in the interest of academic freedom. "Many of us disagree strongly with some of her opinions and arguments, but this alone does not make them dishonourable," the committee said in a statement sent to members of the Ryerson community late yesterday. "If we withdraw the award, then we demonstrate that as a university we show tolerance for some contestable views but not others. "Consequently, to rescind the award would raise basic issues of freedom of speech in an academic environment." The committee said before making its initial decision it was "unaware" of the views she expressed in the media and before Parliament. Had members known of these positions, it would have resulted in them giving "serious pause before approving the award."
Nora Loreto, of the Ryerson Students' Union, which along with the university's gay and lesbian organization has launched a petition campaign to block the award, called the committee's decision "ridiculous." "If this was any other kind of hate, I would expect that the university would be very, very quick to rescind this degree," Loreto said. "I don't know why it's such a difficult issue for them." Protests by students and members of the nearby gay community are planned outside the Ryerson Theatre Monday, which is also the day Toronto's annual Pride Week festivities kick off. Ryerson president Sheldon Levy said in an interview last night that "the fact we have so many people in our community who are feeling so hurt by this is very, very difficult." But he also made clear the committee's decision is final.
---
The Record (Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo) - June 15, 2006 Ethicist says she's shocked over same-sex uproar SOURCE: Record news services
What was supposed to be an honour bestowed by Ryerson University on renowned ethicist Margaret Somerville has turned into an ordeal that she says has left her in a state of shock.
Ryerson's awards committee issued a statement yesterday implying doubts about whether she is an honourable person and suggesting it would not have invited her to receive an honorary degree next week if it had known her views on same-sex marriage.
Somerville recently argued before a Parliamentary committee that children need to know their biological origins, and the norm should be that children are raised by biological parents. Her comments were interpreted as anti-gay and activists launched a campaign to have the honour rescinded.
Somerville said it is frightening that she would be condemned for speaking her mind as an invited participant before a Parliamentary committee. "It is especially scary for young academics and even students - the message is don't speak what you believe or you too will be punished severely."
Somerville is debating whether accept the honorary degree.
---
The Chronicle-Herald - June 15, 2006
No honour in statement by Ryerson, ethicist saysOTTAWA - What was supposed to be an honour bestowed by Ryerson University on renowned ethicist Margaret Somerville has turned into an ordeal that she says has left her in a state of shock.
Ryerson's awards committee issued a statement Wednesday implying doubts about whether she is an honourable person and suggesting it would not have invited her to receive an honourary degree next week if it had known her views on same-sex marriage.
Somerville recently argued before a Parliamentary committee that children need to know their biological origins, and the norm should be that children are raised by biological parents. Her comments were interpreted as anti-gay and activists launched a campaign to have the honour rescinded.
The awards committee said it had seriously considered withdrawing the degree, and will review its procedures. "We have heard no compelling evidence that her conduct or character is dishonourable," says the committee in a news release. "Many of us disagree strongly with some of her opinions and arguments, but this alone does not make them dishonourable."
Somerville says the wording implies there was evidence of dishonourable conduct, it just wasn't compelling enough to justify rescinding the honourary degree. "They 'heard no compelling evidence' indicates that they did hear, one assumes credible (or why put the word compelling), evidence that my conduct or character are dishonourable."
She said it is frightening that she would be condemned for speaking her mind as an invited participant before a Parliamentary committee. "It is especially scary for young academics and even students - the message is don't speak what you believe or you too will be punished severely."
Somerville is debating whether accept the honorary degree. "Why would you let a university confer an honour on you that thinks you're a bad person? It's like confirming what they say if you go ahead with it."
---
The Hamilton Spectator - June 15, 2006
Ethicist in a state of shock; Over Ryerson honorary degree nightmare
SOURCE: The Canadian PressWhat was supposed to be an honour bestowed by Ryerson University on renowned ethicist Margaret Somerville has turned into an ordeal that she says has left her in a state of shock. Ryerson's awards committee issued a statement yesterday suggesting it would not have invited her to receive an honorary degree next week if it had known her views on same-sex marriage.
Somerville recently argued before a Parliamentary committee that children need to know their biological origins, and the norm should be that children are raised by biological parents. Her comments were interpreted as anti-gay and activists launched a campaign to have the Ryerson honour rescinded.
The awards committee said it had seriously considered withdrawing the degree, and will review its procedures. "We have heard no compelling evidence that her conduct or character is dishonourable," says the committee in a news release. "Many of us disagree strongly with some of her opinions and arguments, but this alone does not make them dishonourable."
Somerville says the wording of the Ryerson statement implies that, while there was evidence of dishonourable conduct, it just wasn't compelling enough to justify rescinding the honorary degree. She said it is frightening that she would be condemned for speaking her mind as an invited participant before a Parliamentary committee. "It is especially scary for young academics and even students ... The message is 'don't speak what you believe or you too will be punished severely'."
Somerville is debating whether to accept the honorary degree. "Why would you let a university confer an honour on you that thinks you're a bad person? It's like confirming what they say if you go ahead with it. "I'm between a rock and a hard place now because of the way it's being constructed. "If I were to withdraw because I find this very upsetting, then I'm allowing to occur what I think should not occur, namely that a public harassment campaign can make a university rejudge what it's doing."
Somerville is known for taking unfashionable views on some subjects, but has won international acclaim for her work, including three other honorary degrees. She will deliver this year's prestigious Massey Lectures.