The Catholic Women's League fights for freedom of expression
This is probably the biggest new development in the battle to retain old-fashioned civil rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion in Canada in several months. I'm surprised it has received so little coverage, even on the freespeech blogosphere. Here is my story for Canadian Catholic News, published electronically by CanadianChristianity.com:
Here's why this is huge. The CWL is either the largest or one of the largest women's groups in Canada, with almost 100,000 members. Though socially conservative on issues like abortion and euthanasia, they represent mainstream women voters who support the Liberals, the New Democratic Party and the Conservatives. Many of them tend to be highly socially conscious when it comes to looking after the poor and other vulnerable members of society. So many would not be comfortable with fiscal conservatism. In other words, they look like Canada, and represent a key demographic any political party would covet.
But of course it makes sense this group would join other groups like the Catholic Civil Rights League, because Catholic expression has been targeted by human rights commissions.
Also note in the CWL's resolution, that while they advocate the repeal of the CHRA's Section 13, the action plan includes:
OTTAWA -- The Catholic Women's League (CWL) will ask Parliament to cut the controversial censorship provision of the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA).
At its annual national convention in St. John's, Newfoundland, August 8 - 12, CWL delegates from across the country voted to urge the government to rescind the CHRA's Section 13 and restrict hate speech proceedings to the Criminal Code.
Here's why this is huge. The CWL is either the largest or one of the largest women's groups in Canada, with almost 100,000 members. Though socially conservative on issues like abortion and euthanasia, they represent mainstream women voters who support the Liberals, the New Democratic Party and the Conservatives. Many of them tend to be highly socially conscious when it comes to looking after the poor and other vulnerable members of society. So many would not be comfortable with fiscal conservatism. In other words, they look like Canada, and represent a key demographic any political party would covet.
But of course it makes sense this group would join other groups like the Catholic Civil Rights League, because Catholic expression has been targeted by human rights commissions.
Also note in the CWL's resolution, that while they advocate the repeal of the CHRA's Section 13, the action plan includes:
- Write letters to federal government including the prime minister, minister of justice, provincial attorneys-general, local members of parliament and provincial representatives and territorial equivalents urging urging prosecution of hate messages solely under the Criminal Code and repeal of Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Good on the CWL.
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