A minister who has drawn criticism from members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community because of his sexual politics, among other views, will be in Sidney this Saturday.
Art Lucier, a leader of the Kelowna-based Harvest Ministries International, will be speaking at the Mary Winspear Centre as part of the so-called Battle for Canada, a continuous series of multi-day long revival meetings staged by the Revival Reformation Alliance with its next Battle for Canada scheduled for Kelowna, Feb. 18-20, 2020. St. John, NB., and Edmonton, Alta., held recent editions of the events, which features a variety of speakers from various Christian denominations. Harvest Ministries International is a part of Revival Reformation Alliance.
Lucier said in an interview with the Peninsula News Review that the Sidney event attempts to explain the agenda of the alliance to help drum up support for the Kelowna event. Battle of Canada is a 害羞草研究所渦nity movement of all nations, including First Nations, all denominations to pray for the nation of Canada,害羞草研究所� said Lucier, who describes himself as card-carrying member of the Metis nation.
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害羞草研究所淲e can call it the Battle for the Canada, because for Christians, we see the eroding the morals, of values, that are in line with the foundation on which this nation was established on,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪o prayer is a type of warfare. It is a battle of the moral foundation for this nation.害羞草研究所� He later added that it is also important for Christians to run for government.害羞草研究所� We believe that we need to come together as a church to pray for government, but also to get involved in government.害羞草研究所�
This language echoes language popular among certain circles of Christian fundamentalists in the United States. When asked whether Lucier sees himself in the same tradition, he disagreed.
害羞草研究所淲e actually stand for progressive, conservative values,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e are a movement that believes in progressive, conservative values. We believe that we need to pray for our nation and that is why we are gathering.害羞草研究所�
Promotional videos for the group do not necessarily suggest politics that meet the prevailing definition of progressive politics. They feature images of pro-pipeline protesters, anti-abortion activists, and opponents of Motion 103, a non-binding motion calling for the condemnation of 害羞草研究所淚slamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination.害羞草研究所� (Lucier said his group believes in moving oil to market and free speech).
One of the videos draws attention to Bill C-150 passed under the Liberal government of Pierre Elliot Trudeau. The bill passed in 1969 decriminalized homosexuality in Canada and stands as a milestone for the expanding rights of members of the LGBTQ+ community. Bill C-150 also decriminalized abortion if a so-called therapeutic abortion committee of doctors felt the pregnancy endangered the mental, emotional or physical well-being of the mother.
A 1988 Supreme Court of Canada ruling later found that the committee provision violated the Charter of Rights and Freedom in effectively expanding abortion access. While the law remains in place, the 1988 court ruling has rendered it unenforceable.
Lucier said his group drew the link between Trudeau and Bill C-150 to draw attention to the abortion, not same-sex rights.
害羞草研究所淲e believe that life begins at conception,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hat is why we put Bill C-150 there.害羞草研究所� By way of the background, Lucier has been promoting screenings of Unplanned, an anti-abortion movie.
The Battle for Canada movement has also drawn criticism from the LGBTQ+ community, when it stopped in Edmonton and North Battleford, where a local lawyer called the group an 害羞草研究所渁nti-LGBTQ+, anti-reproductive rights, pro-Trump extremist right-wing political-church害羞草研究所� in a lengthy
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So how does Lucier respond to these charge of homophobia? 害羞草研究所淭hat is all relative,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hey can look at any statement that I have made and judge from there.害羞草研究所� When pressed, Lucier said his group believes in 害羞草研究所渞ights for everyone.害羞草研究所� Would that include LGBTQ+? 害羞草研究所淲e believe in rights and we don害羞草研究所檛 believe in discrimination of anybody including homosexuals,害羞草研究所� he said. When asked whether that includes all groups that identify as LGBTQ+, Lucier demurred. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just going to leave it like that.害羞草研究所�
Based in Kelowna with its history of social and religious conservatism, Lucier is travelling to one of the most liberal corners of the province, raising the question of how his message will resonate.
害羞草研究所淲e are looking for healing and unity between the nations, and we are looking to have people understand that God loves us all,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hat is about it. We know and understand that people who find themselves marginalized want to attack any and all institutions they feel that come against their personal choice. That is unfortunate, but that is not our intention.害羞草研究所�
Lucier害羞草研究所檚 pending appearance in Sidney also draws attention to his environmental politics. A strong supporter of pipelines, Lucier declined to answer questions about climate change and the agenda of local MP Elizabeth May.
害羞草研究所淚 have no comment about climate change,害羞草研究所� he said.
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