Ont. MP wants religious agency’s funding pulled
Posted on 26 April 2008 by Jack
TORONTO — Ontario should consider pulling funding from a Christian group that has a history of human rights complaints and was recently ordered to compensate a worker who had to quit after revealing she was gay, the province’s opposition parties say.
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario recently ordered Kitchener, Ont.-based Christian Horizons to compensate former employee Connie Heintz and to end a prohibitive code-of-conduct contract for its 2,500 employees – the second time the tribunal has had to deal with a complaint against the evangelical organization.
The tribunal’s predecessor, the Human Rights Board of Inquiry, ruled in 1992 that two women fired by the organization for being in common-law relationships be paid $65,000.
Christian Horizons is the largest community living service provider in Ontario and is funded almost entirely by the province, receiving about $75 million each year. It operates more than 180 residential homes for people with developmental disabilities and provides support and services to about 1,400 people.
It requires all staff to sign a contract which forbids them from engaging in certain behaviours that go against its religious beliefs, such as adultery, extra-marital sex, homosexuality and “endorsing” alcohol or cigarettes.
The policy, adopted after the first ruling, violates the basic human rights of the organization’s workers, the tribunal concluded.
Cheri DiNovo, a critic for Ontario’s New Democrats, says it’s unacceptable for an organization being paid for by the public purse to require workers to sign such a contract, and the government must take steps to stamp it out.
“It’s disgusting, it’s horrible,” said DiNovo, a United Church minister who has performed same-sex marriages. “I don’t think there’s anything Christian about being homophobic.”
NDP Leader Howard Hampton says Ontario’s Liberal government must make it clear it won’t keep funding Christian Horizons if it continues to impose its religious beliefs on its employees.
“What may be required is a plan handoff,” he said. “In other words, start the process now of asking for other organizations who are prepared to come together and take on the responsibility.”
Popularity: 28% [?]
April 26th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
See the “Political Correctness Watch.” In the United Kingdom ,Roman Catholic adoption agencies are closing down rather than submit to state-mandated adoptions by homosexuals.
When does it become compulsory for churches to perform same-sex marriages?
April 26th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Interesting that you include a “Wiki” refrence to Cheri DiNovo.
“Wiki” neglected to include a gosh dang thing about her early life.
I’ve read quite the dossier on her,and I’m sickened that she’d be allowed to sit in Ontario’s Legislature as an Honourable Member.
April 26th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
People change and she’s entitled to her views. I included the Wiki reference as a bit of background for people who don’t know her.
The big thing is the HRC decision. No surprise I suppose but it fits with the theme of this site as of late.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Yes Jack,people change,but they generally don’t go around regaling people with stories about all the great dope they’ve smoked,or all the great quantities of LSD and other hard drugs they did,like its something to be proud of.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
If the Ontario government sanctions Christian Horizons by withdrawing their funding, then they better be prepared to step up to the plate and cover the shortfall of care.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
If there is a shortfall in care as a result of this yammering, who will suffer? The residents.
Tell me again how much the NDP cares for people? Like good socialists everywhere, they care not.
I’m thankful I don’t have a relative under the shadow cast be these grandstanding sanctimonious twits, I would find the worry interfering with my sleep.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:38 am
For $75,000,000 per year, I would hope the province can do better.
Christian Horizons “requires all staff to sign a contract which forbids them from engaging in certain behaviours that go against its religious beliefs, such as adultery, extra-marital sex, homosexuality and “endorsing” alcohol or cigarettes.”
Just a thought…If they were called Muslim Horizons and firing people for violating sharia law…
April 27th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Maybe Cheri smokes cigarettes and likes beer and she is more worried about maginalizing people who drink alchol and smoke cigarettes and this Connie gal indulged in both! What would Ginity say about that? Especially about smoking since Ginty and his provincial fellow Premiers really do HATE tobacco smokers - they do like the taxes that tobacco rakes in for them, however.