To the Editor:
(Re: “Only 'depraved minds' would oppose Trinity Western University's adherence to Christian ethics”)
Morals and codes of ethics do not — nor have they ever — belonged solely under the purview of Judeo-Christians. Many of those law professionals who take umbrage with religion and law meeting are Christians themselves. There are a multitude of Christians who are LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and asexual), just as there are a multitude of very moral, upright people who are decidedly not Christian — or even deists.
The last paragraph in particular implies a lot. You can suggest that Canadian Christians are discriminated against after you live decades of your life with legitimized (and unfortunately, actualized) daily fears about being beaten, raped or murdered for not being cisgendered or having a non-heterosexual identity. Until that day, enjoy the reality that the majority of Judeo-Christians have the most privilege in our society.
When you use scare words like “depraved” to discuss legitimate debate in the body of a law organization, and when you use your personal view of a religion as a bludgeoning tool against those who disagree, you’re doing nothing but a disservice to everyone involved — including the university itself.
It is not “depraved” to stand up to defend the dignity of marginalized people, nor do these issues exist in a vacuum. Our law is already negatively impacted by religion; as a youth I was assaulted, and due to the officer’s own inability to separate faith and law, I could not lay charges. I was informed that Christian boys are incapable of assault. My experience is far from abnormal, and is woefully mirrored in many other victims’ stories.
From the wonderful people of faith I do know, I’d say that attacking a lawfully acting group with such vehemence sounds the very definition of an un-Christian act.
Asha Wainionpaa
Creston