I was contacted by Alberta Primetime on May 11th to appear as a panellist to speak to the issue of the influence of religion on government and whether or not Christians should be allowed to speak into the political arena. The question was spurred on by Marci McDonald's ‘The Armageddon Factor’. Although I did not receive a copy of McDonald's book for review, I was sent an excerpt to review. I have included it for your reference at the bottom of this article. The excerpt is what I was given to review prior to accepting the panellist role entering into the broadcast. Please watch the video and feel free to e-mail me with any comments/questions you have.
CDC Analysis Provides New Look at Disproportionate Impact of HIV and Syphilis Among U.S. Gay and Bisexual Men
There are some, in our society today, who say there is no difference health wise between the heterosexual and homosexual lifestyles. A recent press release from the Centre for Disease Control in the U.S. clearly states the opposite.
Our governments and school systems promote this lifestyle as healthy, beneficial, productive and safe.
When the smoking lifestyle/habbit was found to increase the risk of cancer and other diseases, the government and special interest groups went on a rampage with package labelling campaigns, anti-smoking campaigns, TV commercials and the like. Even amoung insurance companies, life insurance rates are adjusted for smokers and there are those that are advocating higher Canada health premiums for smokers. I wonder if the government will act in kind with regard to the homosexual lifestyle/habit. Will the government at least recognize and promote through the education system and awareness campaigns that the homosexual lifestyle/habbit is not a healthy choice? We sincerely hope so. People need to know the truth so that they can make informed decisions about the kind of activities they engage in.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Manning Centre Builds Dictator Democracy
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Manning Centre Builds Dictator Democracy
Christians Expelled from Manning Convention Due to Religious Beliefs
Street Church Ministries is deeply concerned about the roll Christians will play in Canada's democracy, in the future, if the Manning Centre has its way. The ministry was recently expelled from being an exhibitor at the Centre's 2010 convention on the basis of their religious beliefs. Artur Pawlowski, the lead pastor of Street Church Ministries stated that he was appalled and shocked at the boldfaced arrogance and prejudice that the Manning Centre for Building Democracy showed by telling him that a political convention was no place for a church.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - City Left to Challenge Street Preacher Alone
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
City Left to Challenge Street Preacher Alone
Province Chooses Not to Appeal Judge's Decision
In December 2009, a provincial court judge, Judge A. A. Fradsham, ruled in his 91 page decision, that the City, to any reasonable observer, abused their power over Street Church Ministries, and its lead pastor Artur Pawlowski. He also ruled that certain municipal and provincial laws were of "no force or effect" due to the fact that they infringed on Mr. Pawlowski's charter rights. In response to this decision Calgary City solicitor Paul Tolley retorted that the City believes Judge Fradsham, in his provincial court judgement, released earlier in December, had "both errors in fact and errors in law." Following this statement the City applied for and were granted an appeal, after missing the appeal deadline.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
Freedom of Speech with Art Pawlowski [www.StreetChurch.ca] The controversial pastor of Calgary's Street Church, Art Pawlowski joins us today along with Jim Blake, leader of Concerned Christians Canada. A 6 day trial recently wrapped up in Alberta, which pitted the City of Calgary against Street Church in a debate over the right to use loudspeakers to preach to the downtown homeless in public parks. Were Street Church's rights violated or was this a case of Christians being too aggressive? Your thoughts on either side are welcome! www.StreetChurch.ca www.ConcernedChristians.ca
Part 1
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board is quite proud of its new equity policy, including a component that includes sexual orientation.
“It’s not about teaching something that’s contrary to what people might believe,” said HWDSB education director John Malloy in August 2009, just months after he assumed the new position.
Fostering an environment free of racism and discrimination is no easy task when you’re dealing with hundreds of schools and thousands of students.
And it’s even more difficult when some of those young minds come from religious backgrounds that advocate a different view of homosexuality, in accordance with respective interpretations of scripture or holy text.
The board’s insistence to move ahead in spite of certain religious beliefs and with disregard for the concerns of some parents seems a little heavy-handed.
At least that’s how I felt after reviewing a handout given to teachers recently, which basically indicates parents have no rights when it comes to their child’s education at the HWDSB.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
Judge Rules Calgary Preacher Acted in Good Faith - Calgary Bylaws Ruled Unconstitutional
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- December 7, 2009 -
Judge Rules Calgary Preacher Acted in Good Faith
Calgary Bylaws Ruled Unconstitutional
For years, Street Church Ministries has been fighting to have its rights restored. In 2005 and 2006 the ministry applied for, and received, permits to hold church services in Triangle Park. In 2007, the ministry had its permit revoked, allegedly due to noise concerns. The ministry repeatedly claimed that it had never once received a single ticket for exceeding acceptable noise levels. The ministry also repeatedly pointed to written statements by attending officers that, they had “found the ministry to be in compliance with the issued park permits”. Today's ruling by Judge A. A. Fradsham has vindicated the ministries claims to innocence.
Judge Fradsham stated, “While finding that the acused acted in good faith, I am concerned by the actions of certain City officials.” He further wrote that “the City's attempts, through Bylaw Officers and police officers to limit the scope of the efforts by the accused to minister to his congregants, fall precariously close to being excessive and, to any reasonable observer, an abuse of power.”
In reference to the City Bylaws that were deemed of no force or effect and unconstitutional, Judge Fradsham found that some of the bylaws were “impermissibly overboard or vague”. The judge further found that these bylaws “infringed the accused's right of freedom of religion”. He also found that the bylaws “infringed the accused's right of freedom of expression”.
“There are at least eight violations of my Constitutional rights and 2 Bylaws and one provincial law declared to be of no force or effect because of those violations. Hopefully our city officials will take note of this outcome and perhaps this will mean that the City will deal with us differently in the future”, stated Artur Pawlowski of Street Church Ministries.
Judge Fradsham finished his 91 page decision summary with this statement, “Does the evidence support a finding of abusive conduct by City of Calgary Bylaw Officers or Police Officers?” The answer? “Yes...”
After years of battling with the City of Calgary to have their rights restored, Street Church Ministries is greatful to have received such a landmark decision and victory for freedom of religion, and freedom of expression.
“We fought and we won. Today, when I heard the words of the Judge, 'I find the accused not guilty of all charges', I thought of all the countless conversations I had with so many different people, telling them the stories of the City's abuse of power, and now we have the courts telling us that we were right from the very beginning. This is truly amazing and a great blessing. This is not only our victory, today's ruling is a victory for all Canadians. Democracy is something that we should all cherish and hold dear. For these rights, our forefathers bled and died all around the world. Now as their successors, we have a responsibility to continue to stand for those rights, since that is what made our country glorious and free. In this growing recession, with so many hurting people, let's join our efforts together to help and save as many Calgarians as possible, and please, let's stop wasting tax payers money on these kinds of battles”, proclaimed Pawlowski.
The ministry is inviting all interested parties to join them in a victory champagne (sparkling apple juice) celebration at the steps of City Hall this Wednesday at noon. For more information, please contact Street Church at 403-607-4434.
- 30 -
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
Last Updated on Monday, 07 December 2009 23:17
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
November 24, 2009
Calgary Police Officer Charged
Pastor delivers message of forgiveness
Artur Pawlowski Pastor of Street Church Ministries was found innocent of seven criminal charges levied against him in 2006, including “obstruct in public place, petty trespass act, obstruct, omit to assist a public/peace officer, causing a disturbance, loiter, and resist”, relating to the reading of a Bible in a public park. But the story continues. Pawlowski recently received a subpoena to appear at the arresting constable's disciplinary hearing for four days starting on November 30, 2009. Mr. Pawlowski has been asked to appear at the hearing to give evidence relating to the police department's findings of misconduct on the part of the officer during the 2006 arrest.
One would understand a person, who had undergone such a threatening and intimidating experience, to be angry and bitter, what is surprising is that Mr. Pawlowski is not. In a recently released statement, posted on the Street Church website (www.streetchurch.ca), which Pawlowski indicates he will read to the parties present at the upcoming hearing, he comes out with some impressive and striking remarks of forgiveness and co-operation.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to look into this man's face, look into his eyes, and from the bottom of my heart and say, 'you are not only forgiven now, but I forgave you in that police car when you arrested me'. There are always consequences for our actions, but I wish that we all could put this unfortunate incident behind us. I am not after this constable's job, everyone does wrong at one point or another, we are just human beings, and we all make mistakes. My only desire today is that we all would learn from these kinds of difficult situations and come out edified and better for it, making sure that similar incidents will not happen again,” stated Pawlowski.
What's even more surprising is that after four years of heavy pressure and up to 30 officers and 11 emergency vehicles, at a single Street Church event, and more than 80 summons and tickets, and over 30 court appearances, Pawlowski's message is seemingly unwavering; love, forgiveness, and mercy. He hasn't backed down from his convictions, oh no, in fact, he stands firm for them, yet at the same time he demonstrates many qualities desperately lacking in our society.
“In the end what I want all of us to remember, is not the officer's clearly wrong actions, but that there is power in forgiveness, and power in love. That is what should motivate us to move forward,” concluded Pawlowski.
MARK CRIPPS MANAGING EDITOR, TALES FROM THE CRYPT
