Kempling appeal dismissed.Vancouver--On June 13, 2005, Quesnel, B.C. teacher and counselor Chris Kempling Christopher S. M. Kempling, Psy.D. is an educator and counsellor in British Columbia, Canada, whose suspension for voicing his opinions about homosexuality became the centre of a controversy concerning minority rights and freedom of speech. lost another round in his fight for freedom of speech and expression when the Court of Appeal upheld the B.C. College of Teachers' action to suspend him for writing letters to the editor. In July 2000, a complaint was filed with the B.C. College of Teachers regarding letters he had written to his local newspaper which were critical of the homosexual lifestyle. The College thereupon there·up·on adv. 1. Concerning that matter; upon that. 2. Directly following that; forthwith. 3. In consequence of that; therefore. suspended his teaching licence for one month. (He has since received a further three-month suspension for opposing "gay marriage" as a spokesman for his political party.) In its May 2002 decision the College contended that Mr. Kempling was guilty of unprofessional conduct. It argued that his letters were "discriminatory dis·crim·i·na·to·ry adj. 1. Marked by or showing prejudice; biased. 2. Making distinctions. dis·crim " and, as he had identified himself as a teacher, could possibly harm the integrity of the public school system. This, despite the fact that no evidence of harm or discrimination was cited. Mr. Kempling's point was that the discipline imposed on him by the College violated the freedom of religion and expression clauses of the Charter of Rights. His counsel noted that "all other freedoms are an extension of the freedom of expression" and "even if speech is unpopular, it is worthy of protection in a free and democratic society." Mr. Kempling himself has stated that he wrote the letters as a private citizen and considers "the editorial pages ... to be a place where all Canadians have the right to express their points of view, whether people like them or not." The B.C. Supreme Court supported the B.C. Teachers in a February, 2004 ruling. In April 2005 Chris Kempling's latest appeal came before the B.C. Court of Appeal and its decision of June 13 rejected the appeal. Mr. Kempling is being represented by a legal team from the Canadian Religious Freedom Alliance (CRFA CRFA Canadian Renewable Fuels Association CRFA Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association CRFA Certified Retirement Financial Advisor CRFA Cancer Research Foundation of America CRFA Critical Request for Action ). Alliance co-council Kevin Boonstra said after the decision that "the result will be a chill on free debate and expression." This chilling effect  This article or section may deal primarily with the U.S. and may not present a worldwide view. was also noted by Joanne McGarry of the Catholic Civil Rights League, also a CRFA member. Ms. McGarry warned of the consequences at many levels of society, in particular "the impact on the right of clergy to preach preach v. preached, preach·ing, preach·es v.tr. 1. To proclaim or put forth in a sermon: preached the gospel. 2. against behaviour which their religious traditions hold as evil, immoral, or sinful." The case may still be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada (French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian justice system.[1] . (Files from B.C. Catholic, Catholic Register; Interim.) |
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