Political website cited for crime of 'offending'

"It's really a warning for you in the United States to look at this and see what's happening," Wilkins said. "You have to fight this with all that you have."

She said her operation's computer server actually is located in the United States, simply to prevent when happened in an earlier case involving a similar complaint in England – authorities simply shut down the site and erased its data files.

The government organization said it can issue rulings for discrimination based on race, national origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status and family status or physical or mental disability or criminal record.

The government commission, in fact, has lamented the fact that it has jurisdiction only within Canada.

"It is true that website material … can still be posted on websites and by persons that are beyond the Commission's jurisdiction. This limitation stems from both the nature of the Internet and jurisdictional limits of Canadian law," the commission says. "Nevertheless, a decision under section 13 or a conviction under the hate promotion provisions of the Criminal Code are of great importance in indicating that hate promotion … is not permissible in Canada."

It also has a huge campaign to "prevent discrimination," a section that Christians fear if applied in the U.S. would make even their opinions and beliefs subject to penalty.

Under that assignment from the government, the commission "works with community groups, employers, and others … to get the word out through the media, through public service announcements, speaking engagements and public events."

The goal is to "ensure that as many people as possible, from coast to coast, have access to information about human rights," it said. The information is important, because its broader strategy is to help put in place "a culture of human rights."

"The Commission is proposing … internal responsibility systems dealing with conflicts in the workplace are consistent with human rights. Employers should train managers and employees , and ensure strong workplace policies and awareness of human rights standards and remedies to prevent human rights abuses."

Former White House insider Chuck Colson, in his Breakpoint commentary, has labeled such a provision proposed in the United States a "Thought Crimes" plan.

Some segments of society are showing strong support for the plan, even though the White House already has suggested the proposal is unneeded and a veto would be in order if it is approved.

But Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel told WND the most recent move, to add the plan to a defense spending bill, is a political maneuver to create an issue for President Bush, who is seeking the defense bill but opposes the "hate crimes" plan.

Joe Glover of the Family Policy Network said the move is "shockingly manipulative."

"It is a shameless attempt to push the homosexual agenda on the American people by exploiting American soldiers who are currently in harm's way around the world," he said.

WND columnist Janet Folger wrote the idea of arresting people for stating their religious beliefs that homosexuality is wrong is no longer something that "may" happen in the future.

"Here's the Cliff Notes of what so called 'hate crime' legislation has already done IN AMERICA," she wrote. "This is no longer up for debate. Here are the facts."

* Madison, Wisconsin. David Ott, a former homosexual, was arrested for a "hate crime" for sharing his testimony with a homosexual at a gas station. He faced a $10,000 fine and one year behind bars. Seven thousand dollars in legal fees later, [he] was ordered to attend re-education classes at the University of Wisconsin conducted by a lesbian.

* St. Petersburg, Florida. Five Christians including two pastors were arrested at a homosexual rally for stepping onto the public sidewalk instead staying caged in their officially designated "free speech zone."

* Elmira, New York. The Elmira police arrested seven Christians for praying in a public park where a homosexual festival was getting started.

* Crystal Lake, Illinois. Two 16 year old girls are facing felony "hate crime" charges for the content of their flyers.

* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Arlene Elshinnawy, a 75-year-old grandmother of three, and Linda Beckman, a 70-year-old grandmother of 10 (along with nine others), were arrested for sharing their faith on the public sidewalk.

Folger said the testimony from the grandmothers can be seen and heard at the Stop Hate Crimes Now website.

"Just how many cases do we need to cite before America stands up and stops the bill that will criminalize Christianity?" she asked.

Rev. Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America, said the plan will "punish Christians for preaching certain biblical principles and lead to pastors being jailed in violation of their First Amendment rights as we have already witnessed in Europe."

A pastor in Europe already has served a prison term for preaching that the Bible condemns homosexuality.

Peter Sprigg, vice president for policy for the Family Research Council, said even with the U.S. version and its "speech protections," there are grave dangers.

"We've seen it in states, with the Philadelphia 11, where they used ethnic intimidation laws. Intimidation is a broad term, it does not require any act of violence and intimidation is included in the definition of hate crime," he told WND.

The American Family Association earlier issued an "Action Alert" about the pending proposal.

And the Alliance Defense Fund, a leading advocate for freedom of speech in the U.S., analyzed the proposal and concluded "it is entirely constitutional for a person's speech to be used to prove a crime was committed."

"And one's speech (including reading materials, websites visited, sermons heard and preached) is particularly relevant when a component of the crime itself is politically incorrect motive," the analysis said. "The chilling of speech that may result from such a regime is self-evident, whether the First Amendment is implicated or not."