Religious conviction prompts Human Rights inquiry
By
David Di Sabatino
Special to ChristianWeek
TORONTO–A Christian printer who refused a job for a homosexual organization is appearing before the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to determine whether he violated the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Scott Brockie, president of Imaging Excellence in Toronto, appeared before the commission on February 19 to deal with a number of preliminary legal issues. "There’s not much to report," he says. "The full hearing will run for six to eight days in mid-June."
The OHRC has previously ruled against Brockie in a case stemming back to a complaint in April 1996 when he refused to print materials for the Gay and Lesbian Archives (GLA). On an April morning nearly three years ago, Brockie was approached by a potential client on behalf of the homosexual organization. Ray Brillinger, a free-lance graphic designer, asked Imaging Excellence to print stationery and envelopes for the GLA.
Brockie refused, saying that the family-owned company could not print the materials because of his religious convictions. An argument ensued, and Brillinger left the offices accusing Brockie of violating his human rights. Two weeks later Brockie received a letter stating that if he would apologize and pay $5,000 all would be forgiven. Brockie balked at the suggestion, observing that "it is interesting to me when someone can put a pricetag on values."
Two-fold defense
Brockie’s defense is responding to the complaint on two fronts. First, Brockie and his lawyers are arguing that the printer’s rights are being violated, and that some rights are more equal than others in Canada. "Why doesn’t the OHRC think it a viable argument that asking me to print materials diametrically opposed to my religious beliefs is a direct breech of my own human rights?" he asks.
Brockie cites a number of scenarios to flesh out his thinking: "Should a gay printer be forced to print religious tracts suggesting that homosexuality is a sin? Should a gay magazine be forced to print an ad that talks about ‘Coming Out of Homosexuality’? Should a gay lawyer be forced to defend me with this particular case when it goes against everything he believes?"
On the second front, Brockie suggests that the OHRC is openly biased. "The Human Rights Commission protects people, as it should. The problem with my case is that I did not discriminate against a person. I refused an organization. There is something else driving the OHRC’s agenda other than defending the rights of the oppressed."
Meanwhile, some of Brockie’s friends have established a Scott Brockie defense fund (Royal Bank, Branch 3132 in Mississauga), and journalist Michael Coren has been giving the case some publicity.
"If Scott is found ‘guilty’ he will be fined, and if he refuses to pay the fine he could eventually go to prison," writes Coren. "But that is the price we have to pay for freedom–for the freedom of one small group to dictate to a much larger group that some rights are more important than others, and that some people matter much more than others. Welcome to Canada."
As for the next round, Brockie told CW he can hardly wait. "If we win (which will surprise us), it’s over (unless they appeal). If we lose (which won’t surprise us), we’ll appeal it into the general courts."