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Letters by FFWD Staff Two points in the article on "Human Rights cops miss the mark" prompted me to share another viewpoint. First, the writer, Nick Devlin, makes a point about the belief he attributed to Scott Brockie that homosexuality is wrong and sinful. My understanding is that it’s the job of the Human Rights Commission of any province of Canada to confront any practice that is hurtful and/or oppressive to anyone within its jurisdiction. Homophobia is hurtful and oppressive to many people and one of those practices that needs to be confronted in whatever cloak it wears. I only have this article to go on for facts in this case, but it appears Mr. Brockie is in a print business that deals with the public, not a private group. I have no idea why The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archive would want him to do their print job, but apparently they approached him, I’m assuming they like his print work. Secondly, Devlin made some comments about the United Church of Canada. As someone who has exercised full membership in the United Church, I found some misconceptions in Devlin’s reference. The United Church is not a movement, political party, "a Sunday morning meeting of the Nice People’s Social Club," nor does it profess an "a-la-carte theology and laissez-faire attitude towards belief in God." It is a Christian church. The United Church, to date, has not made any decision to, or not to, ordain gay and lesbian people. It ordains those people who are members of the church, have expressed a call to paid ministry and have followed a process to meet the criteria the church sets for ordination. Neither the person’s sexual orientation nor, for that matter, the colour of their eyes, is part of that process. The United Church will not throw you out on the street churchless for what you do or do not believe. It leaves choice up to the person. My understanding is that the Christian church in general professes a belief that God is the one who judges people’s sinfulness or lack thereof, not humans. I wonder, "Is God homophobic do you think, Mr. Devlin?" Valerie G. Connell

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