American pastor Fred Phelps has once again announced he intends to come to Canada. Phelps is the man who claims "the Bible preaches hate" and has a Web site titled "godhatesfags." His site counts the days that Matthew Shepard (the Wyoming teenager brutally beaten to death because he was gay) has, Phelps presumes, been in hell.

I see none of the love of Christ in his message. Frankly, I find it revolting. So does Svend Robinson.

In fact, Phelps and his message of hate is one of the reasons Robinson gives for introducing his private member’s bill to include sexual orientation in the hate propaganda section of the criminal code. Formerly C-415, the bill was reintroduced as C-250 and is again before the Justice Committee.

It has the support of provincial Ministers of Justice; some police officers who deal with hate crimes and are sympathetic. When it was debated at second reading in the House of Commons, only one party—the Canadian Alliance—expressed objections.

Bill C-250 is aimed at silencing people like Phelps with the threat of criminal sanctions and, in the case of Phelps, dissuading him from coming to Canada. Frankly, I don’t want Phelps to come either. Neither do I want to condone or in any way abet people who incite others to acts of violence against gays and lesbians—or anyone else for that matter.

So why can’t I support C-250 unequivocally"

The inclusion of sexual orientation could do much more than criminalize speech that motivates people to acts of violence. Since hate is not defined, and because sexual orientation does not distinguish between the person and the sexual practice, this bill could silence reasonable public discussion about the immorality of certain sexual practices and even implicate the Bible.

What is the promotion of hatred" Kim Vance, president of the homosexual advocacy group EGALE, has suggested that publicly saying gays and lesbians are "sick and immoral" crosses the line into hatred.

If hate, as former Chief Justice Dickson suggested, is that which causes emotional damage or has a "severely negative impact on the individual’s sense of self-worth and acceptance," then hate speech would have quite a broad and subjective interpretation.

Another problem is the ambiguity of the term "sexual orientation". Not only is it not limited to the sexual practices of consenting adults, it is interpreted to mean both a sexual disposition as well as sexual practice.

As it is interpreted to include both the person and the activity, the law would have difficulty distinguishing between comments condemning the sin rather than the sinner. Comments on the morality or immorality of sexual practices could fall within the scope of what constitutes hate propaganda.

Combine this with a broad understanding of what constitutes hatred, and a chill will be placed on any public discussion of sexual morality.

And what of the Bible" Under the law, it is people who promote hatred, not texts. But what if someone’s use of the Bible is deemed by a judge to be promoting hatred"

Publications used to promote hatred can be seized and destroyed. Would this happen to the Bible in Canada" Perhaps it is unlikely, but what are the implications of portions of the Bible being found to be hate literature for the distribution or placement of Bibles in hotel rooms, schools and public libraries"

The Christian message is one of a loving call to repentance from sin and obedience to Christ. It condemns sin out of love for the sinner. We understand this because we too are sinners in need of the grace of God. We enjoy the liberty in Canada to communicate this message.

I do not like what Phelps says and does or his use of the Bible to justify it. Bill C-250 will do more than capture the message of Phelps.

As a lawyer friend keeps reminding me, the law is a blunt instrument. The bill is now before the Justice Committee. Now is the time to urge Members of Parliament to ensure the Bible will not be considered hate literature and that the freedom to express moral views about sexual practices is not lost in Canada.

Bruce Clemenger is director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s Centre for Faith and Public Life in Ottawa. More information about C-250 is available at www.evangelicalfellowship.ca