Alberta Tory leadership candidate Ric McIver is defending his right to march in an event many are calling homophobic.
On Sunday McIver tweeted a photo of himself at the "March for Jesus" parade in Calgary, put on by the Street Church.
The Street Church website described the event as a repsonse to gay pride events in Calgary:
Last year alone, Calgary's streets were flooded with people of wrong sexual preferences during a homosexual parade of over 30,000 attendees and none of them were embarrassed the slightest to publicly even present their nakedness in front of families and in front of future generations to openly proclaim and manifest that they are not ashamed to declare the name of their master (Satan) and in the same way not concerned with provoking greatly the wrath of the Living God.
UPDATE, June 17, 8:00 a.m.: McIver had his knuckles rapped Monday by the PC party for marching in a weekend parade organized by a church that believes gay people are the minions of Satan.
"Closed mindedness or intolerance have no place in the PCAA," Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta president Jim McCormick said in a written statement.
"Individual members are expected to follow our statement of principles, which includes that of being an open party that's accessible to all Albertans.
"Tolerance and acceptance in this province is vital for us to continue to be a strong and vibrant society."
There have been several comparisons made between McIver's attendance at the parade and Wildrose candidate Allan Hunsperger’s “lake of fire” comments during the last provincial election.
Hunsperger had written a blog warning homosexuals that Satan was setting a "trap" for them and if they didn't change their ways, they would "suffer the rest of eternity in the lake of fire, hell."
It is widely agreed that Hunsperger's comments, in part, cost the Wildrose the election.
But in a Facebook post Monday, McIver defended his actions, saying, “Albertans have the right to live their lives as they choose.”
The full statement reads:
Yesterday, I helped open the March for Jesus in Calgary.
In my remarks, I talked about how I have been able to celebrate the diversity of Alberta by taking part in celebrations of many religions, cultures and traditions that make up Alberta, and this was a day to celebrate my own Roman Catholic faith with other Christians.
I have attended the opening of this event for the last 4 years. For years, I have also attended events with other faith communities, including Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and secular events with many diverse communities from around the world.
I sent a tweet about how it was good to see Alberta flags. To me, this was indication of how all Albertans can take part in celebrating their faith and culture openly in our province.
Since then, I have received many communications about negative text on the March for Jesus website.
Let me be clear about a few things:
1. Albertans have the right to live their lives as they choose (within the bounds of the law of course.)
2. The website in question is not my website and does not describe my views.
3. My website is ricmciver.com
4. As an Albertan and if chosen Premier, I do and will continue to defend equality rights for all Albertans as defined in the Charter, including sexual orientation. I deplore discrimination against all groups and individuals without exception.
5. I shall continue to attend events celebrating the diversity of Alberta.
I hope this statement clears up any doubts about my commitment to the rights and freedoms of all Albertans, in the past, in the present and in my intentions for the future.
Meanwhile, over the weekend another PC leadership hopeful, Thomas Lukaszuk, participated in the presentation of Alberta's first gender-altered child birth certifcate.
Lukaszuk told the Canadian Press Monday he won't comment on McIver's choices but said, ""I can tell you that I always make sure that whatever organization I engage myself with I thoroughly read their literature, their background and what it is they really stand for."
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