From holly pierlot re Chris Kempling. (Letters to the Editor).

Chris Kempling, the B.C. teacher/guidance counsellor, is under attack by the B.C. Teacher's Federation because he is 'dangerous' and they deem it necessary to 'punish' him (see C.I, March 2003, pp. 37-38). What has he done? It is not his squeaky clean record within the school which is causing alarm to the powers that be, nor the glowing recommendations of excellence forwarded by four administrative staff that support him. No. Despite his clean professional record, Chris Kempling is being threatened with the loss of his livelihood because he upholds the Christian teachings on sexual morality. Mr. Kempling has said that homosexual behaviour is immoral. Because he has expressed this view publicly in a local newspaper, Mr. Kempling is considered a 'poisonous' influence within his school.

While acknowledging his basic civil rights to freedom of religion and freedom of speech, critics of Mr Kempling say he should be denied these rights in this circumstance, holding that because he is in a position of authority, his views are problematic to his workplace. Primarily, this reflects a gross ignorance of the nature of human rights. 'Rights' are those freedoms which we hold by virtue of being human, as an acknowledgment of our human dignity. They are 'under the law' so to speak, i.e., they are a foundational base upon which to build law.

But this case reveals the growing and gradual undermining of human rights based on circumstance, situational ethics, and moral relativism. In this case, we are witnessing the prophetic voice of George Orwell's 1984 'thought police'--where the opinions and beliefs of the individual, and his freedom in speaking those beliefs, are now monitored by a random few. Legitimacy of truth is now determined by their vote and popular consensus, and they take upon themselves the power to punish.

When a society cannot even uphold its own self-acknowledged rights, then that society has lost its basic moral and philosophical unity. Moral anarchy and political totalitarianism are to follow - where the rule and dictatorship of the few and powerful over-ride the basic fundamental human rights of the majority of citizens. That this totalitarianism is seemingly coming from the 'grass roots up' is even more ominous.

This case is not just about Chris Kempling. Christianity's moral beliefs are the real subject of this dispute. The situation reflects the growing 'intolerance' toward Christian truth by a society that hypocritically spouts tolerance of every other belief system and opinion of our day. This is religious persecution. It is important that we realize Chris Kempling is a test case.

If Mr. Kempling is denied his livelihood and the practice of his profession simply because he has publicly professed his beliefs, then the legal precedent will have been set. We can expect a major persecution of those who hold to the Christian faith in the near future. If we remain silent on this issue in our typically Canadian way, while the voice of the vocal minority determines the 'new rules and rights' of our society, we will have no one else to blame when they come for us. Christians, wake up'.....Speak up!

Morell, PEI