NEWS DIGEST: Religion in Canada

c. 2003 Religion News Service Internal Sikh Dispute Turns Violent TORONTO (RNS) An internal dispute in Toronto’s Sikh community turned violent this month when a group of Sikh men invaded the home of an outspoken dissident. The Palgrave, Ontario, home of Narinder Singh Grewal, who has been denounced as leader of a breakaway, blasphemous Sikh […]

c. 2003 Religion News Service

Internal Sikh Dispute Turns Violent


TORONTO (RNS) An internal dispute in Toronto’s Sikh community turned violent this month when a group of Sikh men invaded the home of an outspoken dissident.

The Palgrave, Ontario, home of Narinder Singh Grewal, who has been denounced as leader of a breakaway, blasphemous Sikh cult, was trashed, causing an estimated $50,000 in damage, after some 100 Sikh men broke in, ostensibly to search for the Sikh holy scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib.

Grewal has been under scrutiny in Toronto’s Punjabi-language media because of statements disparaging the Sikh text and the faith’s 10 founding gurus. He has said he is above the holy book, and that he believes he is a Sant, or enlightened being, and must share his wisdom.

The statements have enraged baptized Sikhs, some of whom took Grewal at his word and decided that since he didn’t need the book they would go to his house to get it.

It was not clear whether Grewal was home at the time, but the book was found.

One man was treated for minor injuries. Police have made no arrests to date.

Councilor Wants Prayer Introduced

TORONTO (RNS) A local municipal councilor wants the City of Toronto to consider beginning council meetings with a prayer.

Councilor Lorenzo Berardinetti has asked the city’s administration committee to consider adding a non-denominational prayer to the opening of council meetings, replacing the moment of silent reflection that has been in effect since the 1980s.

“Right now we have these condolences and a moment of silence before the meeting starts and personally I find it awkward,” he said. “It would be ideal if we could get something of a universal nature read at each council meetings _ even if only for 30 seconds or a minute.”

The proposal has been shot down by one of Berardinetti’s colleagues.

“I’m absolutely opposed to it,” said Councilor Howard Moscoe. “There’s no reason to have sectarian religious observances in Toronto _ particularly when the population has evolved to the point where the majority of people are not Christians.”


Reintroducing prayer “is simply a quick grab for the piety vote,” Moscoe said.

Canada: Haven for Gays?

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (RNS) A professor of comparative religion says Canada could become a haven for gay immigrants.

Tom Faulkner of Dalhousie University says many homosexual couples in the United States will now think about moving north of the border to take advantage of planned legislation announced June 17 by Prime Minister Jean Chretien that would legalize same-sex marriage.

“I think that at this point, Canada is going to start looking about as attractive to gays and lesbians as it did for people who were, in conscience, opposed to the Vietnam War and decided they were going to come live here,” Faulkner told CBC.

“I think that’ll be very interesting to watch. I think that we may find ourselves with some very interesting and wonderful immigrants.”

Faulkner feels many churches in the Maritimes will likely avoid dealing with the same-sex issue. But, he said, gay and lesbian couples will have little trouble finding chaplains or other spiritual leaders to sanctify their marriages.

Missionaries Lose Menorah Battle _ Again

TORONTO (RNS) Chosen People Ministries, a New York-based Christian outreach group to Jews, may not use the menorah as a legally protected logo, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled June 18.


The court dismissed CPM’s appeal of a ruling handed down a year ago, which reversed a decision by Canada’s Registrar of Trademarks granting the organization’s stylized, semi-circular menorah Official Mark status, similar to a trademark designation.

The designation would have allowed CPM, which has an office in Toronto and claims about 100 Canadian followers, to use the menorah on all its wares and services and potentially, prevent others from using the same or similar design.

Canadian Jewish Congress had argued successfully that allowing a group which seeks to convert Jews to Christianity to legally protect the menorah would be “scandalous and immoral,” since the ancient seven-branch candelabrum is one of the most hallowed symbols of Judaism.

This time, the court ruled that CPM was wrong to have received the designation for its menorah because Official Marks are supposed to be granted only to “public authorities” over which the government has control, and which work for the public’s benefit.

Religious More Likely to Want Kids

OTTAWA (RNS) Religious Canadians are more likely to want children than those with no religion, says Statistics Canada in its newly released summer 2003 issue of Canadian Social Trends.

“Religious traditions are generally linked with values and attitudes that support marriage and parenthood,” says the report. “Research shows that there is a positive association between religious participation and traditional attitudes about family formation.”


The article, entitled Childfree by Choice, reported that Canadians with no religious affiliation are more likely not to plan a family than their religious counterparts.

In the 20-34 age group, 12 per cent of those with no religious affiliation expected to stay child free, compared to six per cent of religious Canadians.

The article states that “despite a weakening link between children and marriage, childbearing is still associated with a committed relationship.”

Canada Bans Three Sikh, two Muslim Groups

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (RNS) Canada banned three Sikh militant groups as “terrorist” organizations on June 18, including one allegedly linked to the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182.

Federal Solicitor General Wayne Easter said Ottawa had determined that Babbar Khalsa, Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation “knowingly engaged in terrorist activity.”

It also banned two Pakistan-based Sunni militant groups, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, bringing the number of groups on Canada’s prohibited list to 31.


Babbar Khalsa and ISYF both had members in the Vancouver area, one of the largest Sikh populations outside of India.

The three Sikh groups support the creation of an independent Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab region. Talwinder Singh Parmar, a founder of Babbar Khalsa who was killed by Indian authorities in 1992, is alleged by Canadian police to have helped plot the bombing that destroyed Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, which killed 329 people.

Two Sikh men are now on trial in Vancouver for the airliner bombing off the coast of Ireland, which was history’s deadliest act of aviation sabotage until the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Gay Muslims Meet in Toronto

TORONTO (RNS) Hundreds gathered here this month for the first Canadian-sponsored conference on homosexuality and Islam.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Muslims from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa gathered in Toronto for three days of exploring how they can reconcile their sexuality with a faith understood by many to forbid same-sex relationships.

The conference was organized by Salaam Canada, a local support group, in conjunction with the Washington, D.C. group Al-Fatiha, an international organization dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or questioning.


Organizers said the conference, entitled “Liberating Tradition, Celebrating Culture,” reflects the growing numbers of Muslims demanding a more liberal interpretation of their faith.

The gathering featured workshops and talks by leading scholars of Muslim law.

Student Sues Over Religious Bias

VANCOUVER (RNS) A graduate student is suing the University of British Columbia for discrimination over her religious beliefs.

Cynthia Maughan, who is working toward a master’s degree in English, alleges she experienced hate and contempt for over a year.

In her suit, Maughan claims her English professor scheduled a class on a Sunday in 2001 and refused to change it despite requests.

Maughan, an Anglican, did not attend the class because it was her Sabbath, and said she was denied an educational opportunity because her religious beliefs prevented her from attending.

She said she also did not attend the class because it was held at the home of a classmate who had sent her and other students an e-mail she said offended Christians.


She also cited e-mails from professors calling her mentally unstable based on her religion.

Maughan is seeking damages that could total more than $18 million.

KRE END CSILLAG

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