A Canadian MP has proposed criminalizing Bible quoting

Canadian Member of Parliament and Chair of the Justice and Human Rights Committee, Mark Miller, has caused widespread public outcry by proposing to prosecute for publicly quoting passages from the Bible that he considers «hateful» towards homosexuals. The statement, made during a debate on hate speech laws, provoked sharp criticism from religious and political figures.

According to LifeSiteNews, during an Oct. 30 hearing in Ottawa, Mark Miller expressed doubt about the propriety of using the «good faith» defense for Christians who refer to certain biblical texts. «The books of Leviticus, Deuteronomy, the Epistle to the Romans — there are other passages — contain explicit hatred, for example, against homosexuals,» Miller said. He added that such passages should not be a defense, and prosecutors should perhaps «have the right to bring charges.»

The comments were directed at Derek Ross, executive director of the Christian Legal Fellowship, who testified before the committee. In response, Ross disagreed with this characterization of scripture. «If MPs are of the opinion that passages in the Bible are full of hate, that’s something Canadians should be aware of,» he said. Ross emphasized the need to preserve the opportunity for dialogue without fear of being labeled a criminal or a hate monger for his beliefs.

Miller’s statement drew sharp reactions outside the committee as well. Dan Williams, a member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly, called the MP’s words «disgusting» and an «attack on faith.» He said the broader implication of such statements is that «Christians and Jews are themselves steeped in hatred.» In response to the criticism, Miller used profanity on social media, sparking a new wave of outrage. One of the users X called his position «more suitable for a tinpot dictator than for a Canadian parliamentarian».

Recall, earlier we reported that a new sociological study in the United States revealed growing contradictions in the views of Americans on the Bible and the foundations of the Christian faith. According to the results, almost half of the respondents consider the Holy Scripture a collection of myths, not the Word of God. At the same time, a significant proportion of respondents also doubt the divinity of Jesus Christ, although they recognize the Bible as an authoritative guide to life.