The Toronto Star reported on statements by a Canadian politician from a pro-life perspective, which created some stir and a tad of controversy.

The Progressive Conservative MPPs, according to Ford, will have the opportunities to speak as they deem fit. But the government of the province of Ontario will not touch the issue of abortion anymore.

Ford said, “I don’t dictate to anyone what their beliefs are.” This was following statements of Sam Oosterhoff of Niagara West. He spoke at a pro-life or anti-abortion rally. Those who wish deny the right of abortion to women through some measures including illegality in many, most, or all respects.

Ford continued, “Can any of my members speak their mind? Yes, they can speak their mind, because not everyone in this legislature thinks the same… We have a big tent there.”

However, Ford was clear on the orientation of the provincial government not taking part in the opening of the abortion debate any longer. Oosterhoff and others stood to applaud the statements by Ford.

The article stated, “The MPP, who was also in the news last week after his constituency office called Niagara region police on a senior citizen’s book club that was protesting library budget cuts, told the crowd of hundreds of protesters last week he will work to make abortion ‘unthinkable’ and later quoted a children’s author to explain his position.”

The children’s book author was Dr. Seuss mentioning the mattering of someone no matter their size or “how small.” Oosterhoff has been an outspoken pro-life or anti-abortion politician in his early career to date.

One concern amongst the New Democrats is that the funding for the abortion services funded by the province could be cut to some degree in the midst of budgetary cuts by the government of Ontario under the premiership of Doug Ford.

“In the PC leadership race last year, Ford raised concerns he was cosying up to social conservatives by questioning why teens need parental consent notes to go on school trips but not to get abortions,” the Toronto Star stated.

MPP Suze Morrison stated that women have taken a long fight for bodily autonomy; with the cuts to the budget, this becomes a major concern for the women who rely on the health care system in Ontario for some of the services regarding reproductive health rights, including abortion services. All remain fundamental human rights.

The denial of the rights to abortion, for one, becomes a human rights violation as this would deny the fundamental right to abortion for women. Thus, this would become a violation of the right stipulated for decades by the United Nations.

“Ford referred the question to Children and Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod, who noted she supported legislation passed by the previous Liberal government to have 50-metre safety zone outside abortion clinics so women can enter free of harassment,” the article concluded, “‘This government will continue to stand up for women’s rights across this province, despite the rhetoric from the members opposite,’ said MacLeod, adding, ‘We respect debate internally within our caucus.’”

Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash

According to the Toronto Star, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken a position on a comprehensive nondiscrimination bill stated to protect LGBT rights

It gives broad protections. This became the crux of the issue for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the LDS. The representatives of the LDS church stated that the bill, or the Equality Act, will be a direct threat to religion.

In the following senses, it will post a threat to religious employment standards, to religious education, and to the funding of religious charities.

As reported, “The church pointed out the importance of religions and religious schools having the right to create faith-based employment and admissions standards.”

The other religious groups who have stood in solidarity with the LDS in opposition to this have been the Southern Baptist Convention and the Roman Catholic Church.

This legislation adds gender identity and sexual orientation to the current federal nondiscrimination laws in “employment, housing, education, and public spaces and services.”

The Equality Act simply protects vulnerable individuals in society who, as of recently, have begun to have some modicum of respect, dignity, and representation within the society.

“The bill has widespread Democratic backing and seems certain to pass the House, but the chances appear slim in the Republican-controlled Senate,” the Toronto Star stated, “The Utah-based faith, widely known as the Mormon church, said it favours ‘reasonable’ measures to protect LGBT people’s access to housing, employment and public accommodations, but that such efforts shouldn’t erode the right for people to live and speak freely about their religious beliefs.”

The LDS church has been progressing in ways not seen, in terms of rapidity, in other faiths, which took much longer while other have not moved at all (or much).

The LDS church lives with the difficult context of wanting to affirm the rights of the LGBTQ community while also sticking within the boundaries of the faith on homosexual marriage and intimacy of same-sex couples.

This is difficult to straddle this line.

The article informed, “The church points to a 2015 Utah anti-discrimination law it backed. That measure made it illegal to base employment and housing decisions on sexual orientation or gender identity, while also creating exemptions for religious organizations and protecting religious speech in the workplace. The faith said the federal Equality Act doesn’t strike the right balance.”

In the minds of the officials of the LDS church, the difficulty lies between religious liberty and the rights of the LGBT community. They see the proposal in the Equality Act as something that is eroding the free practice of religion while also “preventing diverse Americans of good will from living together in respect and peace.”

U.S. Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee have opposed the legislation.

Photo by Štefan Štefančík on Unsplash