August 2006 Newsletter |
Sexual Orientation Equity Policy Aims to Remove Non-Existent Barriers
We have recently written to the School Board expressing our rapidly growing alarm at the direction being taken by the Equity Policy Steering Committee addressing Sexual Orientation. This Steering Committee is now considering to allow the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community - without any apparent limitation - to redesign School Board programs and curriculum in order to normalize LGBT conduct in our children's minds. The Committee is entertaining the concept that the LGBT community will choose what goals they want to attain, and will determine themselves when and if these goals are achieved. If this concept goes forward, the children in the School system will be held hostage by the gay and lesbian community's decisions about what kids will learn about homosexuality, and what experiences they will be exposed to in the School system to normalize this objectionable conduct and lifestyle.
The School Board's own legal firm has affirmed our right as Christians under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to hold the opinion that homosexuality is objectionable, but the School Board is ignoring us and excluding us in favour of advancing the homosexualist agenda in the schools. We informed Director Spence and the School Board that the Steering Committee has now abdicated a balanced commitment to equity and that the Committee is demonstrating intolerance towards Christian objections to homosexuality in the schools. We have indicated that the Committee and its School Board leadership is clearly biased against our legitimate and legally sanctioned concerns and interests as guaranteed under the Charter of Rights. There is an absence of rational justification in our discussions. Further, we have said we believe that when the full picture is known by the Hamilton community, the community will not support the direction which is currently being taken.
At our latest meeting, the Committee was asked to endorse the following policy statement, "The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board acknowledges that there are barriers that may prevent full participation in school-community partnerships by lesbian, gay and bi-sexual communities and other communities who identify themselves on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity." The HWFAC representatives inquired what barriers were being referred to, and were told by the LGBT representative that there were none in particular. No barriers were identified, and none were targeted by the policy.
This combination of "carte blanche" for the LGBT community on the redesign of programs and curriculum, accompanied by a complete absence of information about what problems exactly are being addressed, raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the process ...
... More...
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Sex-Ed Curriculum - For Better or For Worse
In our March newsletter, we informed our readers of some of the positive aspects found in Edition 4 of the Grade 5-8 curriculum such as numerous occasions when students are directed to discuss things with their parents or clergy and the promised inclusion of the point that no Grade 8 student meets the criteria of being able to make a responsible decision to engage in sexual activity.
We also raised concerns regarding detailed (almost photo-like) frontal views of the adult male penis circumcised and uncircumcised and the female vagina with all labeling including the clitoris. A second and alarming concern was the curriculum attempt to introduce anal intercourse as 'a type' of intercourse where the penis enters another person's anus; no warning of the extreme risks associated with this sexually deviant conduct.,
These were significant concerns to us and we wrote to the board requesting a second meeting, which they granted. At this second meeting, we discussed 3 items which are outlined in the full article, along with the Board's comments.
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1. That HWFAC members will have a time of rest and renewed vigour this summer.
2. HWFAC rep's as they participate in Equity Policy sexual orientation (S.O.) committee meetings next fall and winter. Pray for new legal counsel and for funding for a possible lawsuit against the Public School Board.
3. The Lord's will be done in the lives of those who serve at our various school boards, and for courage and boldness to stand against those who deny the God of Abraham, Isaac and Judah.
4. That the Council can also bring alongside Director Chris Spence, and Steering Committee leadership to understand and respect our concerns, and that legal action will not become necessary.
5. For the sex education curriculum meetings with school board staff ...More...
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HWFAC Seeks Additional Leadership
The HWFAC continues to bring leadership to the sex education issue in our community, as well as to the contentious Equity Policy development at the Public School Board.
The Lord has placed on many of our hearts the necessity for leadership in other areas of concern as well, areas that require fellow Christians to lead. If you are involved in an issue, and would like to join the HWFAC leadership, in one of the following areas, or in another important area of concern, please apply in writing with a reference from your clergy, to the HWFAC via email or regular mail.
Issues:Intelligent Design - Equal Time Requirement (not currently recognized by our local School Board), Public Health Researcher, Web site design, Prayer Coordinator, Researcher of municipal election candidates.
Being a part of what God is doing in Hamilton is both a great challenge and a blessing and helps to bring critical information and representation to fellow Hamiltonians so that we can better serve the Lord.
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Will Greater Hamilton get a new Mayor? New Councillors? New School Board Trustees?
The Lord Jesus wants his people to be engaged in and to influence the society we live in - To be Salt & Light !!
We have the rest of summer and the autumn to:
1) Pray over the elections and the role the Lord gives each one of us to play;
2) If we feel the Holy Spirit is urging us to run for office, to make our needs known so that others can rally around us in support; and
3) Learn about who is running (see Hamilton.ca) and ask questions of the candidates.
HWFAC is looking for someone who will spend some time asking a few moral questions of our candidates, so that we can pass such information on to others, and be prepared to vote on Monday, November 13, 2006 for Godly men and women.
For example,
- How does the candidate feel about the school board normalizing sexual orientations and behaviours to our children?
- And how do they feel about ...More...
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Vote to Re-Open Definition of Marriage Debate
This Fall, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will ask for a vote from our MPs on whether or not to re-open the issue of the redefinition of marriage that now includes two persons of the same-sex. It is likely to be a very close vote as the Conservative Party has a minority government.
Action! One month remains for summer, and if you have not called or written your MP, please do so today. Do pray for your MP and their families daily, do express your appreciation to them, and do write today regarding this extremely important issue at: House of Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6, postage free. Should this important principle of marriage (limiting marriage to one male and one female), not be reinstated, other limitations will likely fall as well. We know that polygamy was being reviewed by the previous governing party.
What to Say? Vote Marriage Canada is one coalition that has helpful resources. From their document, Making the Case For Marriage, you may argue that, "It is not discriminatory to treat different realities differently. Same-sex relationships are fundamentally different than heterosexual relationships. Non-discrimination does not require uniformity - it requires respect for diversity and differences." And, "The core purpose of this institution (marriage) is not companionship, but the procreation of children and the rearing of the next generation of humankind. As such, marriage properly understood is the foundation of families and human society."
The name of your Southern Ontario MP may be found at this web page.
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Report on 9th Annual Birthright
Scavenger Hunt
In 1997, as HWFAC began to expose the deeds of Public Health and Planned Parenthood clinics, we realized that a suitable pro-abstinence, pro-life resource that would be needed to provide good help and counseling for young women. It was a Focus on the Family article that inspired us to sponsor scavenger hunts on Father's Day weekend each year with all supplies and monies going directly to Birthright. This year, HWFAC sponsored the 9th Annual Scavenger Hunt for Birthright.
Last year's event saw 948.5 pounds of infant and maternity clothing and supplies collected along with $1,245 in cash, all in one day; a total of 2,193.5 points. That was raised by 10 churches. This year's event saw a significant drop to 418.5 pounds of supplies along with $839 in cash for a total of 1257.5 points, from 3 participating churches. While it is disappointing, the good news is that some churches who did not participate in the Scavenger Hunt this year are raising supplies for Birthright throughout the year via events of their own.
Birthright has requested HWFAC to hold the 10th Annual scavenger hunt next year, but we will need your help to have your church participate. Please consider being a contact for your church and asking your congregation to participate in next year's event. If you will do that, please contact Penny Enos at (905) 304-7944. Birthright needs us to provide for the needs of societies most vulnerable.
Birthright Hamilton Celebrates 35 Years of Assisting Women!
The public is invited to Birthright's 35th Anniversary Dinner on Thursday, September 21, 2006. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Dinner 7:00 p.m. at Michelangelo Banquet Center, 1555 Upper Ottawa Street, Hamilton, ON. The cost is $35.00. For tickets, call Eva at 905-527-3677 or 905-560-6910. Welcome!
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