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In Defense of Stephen Harper

A lot of pundits have been giving PM Stephen Harper a really hard time for muzzling MP Mark Warawa's motion that parliament condemn sex selection abortion.I think both Warawa and Harper are doing a good job, but if I have to take sides, I'll side with Harper.
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A lot of pundits have been giving PM Stephen Harper a really hard time for muzzling MP Mark Warawa's motion that parliament condemn sex selection abortion.

I think both Warawa and Harper are doing a good job, but if I have to take sides, I'll side with Harper.

"Harper's handicap" of course, is that he is perceived by many in the media as being an evangelical Christian, who actually might believe some of the things taught in the Bible. And they, the liberal media especially, can't wait for him or his government to self destruct over the unpopularity of Christian issues.

But perhaps, what the media do not realize, and what Harper does, is that the New Testament has a lot to say on how Christians should behave when they are a small minority, like today.

In our democracy, you have to give the people what they want, or you won't get elected. But if you do get elected, you have the privilege of discussing with the people what is good that they should want. For example, the government has and does fund national action councils to help educate us on progressive issues. And MP Mark Warawa is expressing an important and valid concern, that sex selection abortion is part of a world wide tragedy that has caused a terrible imbalance, especially in the countries of China and India, of males outnumbering females. And a political action council to help educate Canadians that it is good, to have an equal number of male and female births, is more than appropriate.

But, let's be real, considering "Harper's handicap", to have a motion from a Conservative MP with the word "condemn" in it is political suicide.

MPs, like everyone else, need to build up and encourage. I think it would be great for MPs to discuss a motion supporting a Child Benefit Payment, to help offset the nonmedical expenses for any woman, of giving birth, such as extra food, shelter and clothing. And please note, such a motion does not condemn anyone or anything, or interfere with anyone's rights in any way; it just helps. It is like, I think, the Christian thing to do.

One of the "ways out" for North America's most famous Catholic politicians, such as (future Liberal Leader) Justin Trudeau and US Vice President Joe Bidden, for not legislating Catholic teaching, is given by Paul, in the New Testament, when he writes, "After all, do I have any business judging those who are outside (the Christian faith)?" 1 Corinthians 5:12 The Church, according to Paul, has a hard enough time encouraging Christians to do what is best. And it is not rocket science, is it? That we grow up and marry, and be kind and loving to our spouse, all our life, work hard, raise the kids, have fun, and like the Bible says, "Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God". Micah 6:8

And considering this teaching in the Bible "God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world, but to save the world." John 3:17, perhaps, from a Christian perspective, a motion in the Parliament of Canada, with the word "condemn" in it, is not appropriate, after all.

P.S. Let's be encouraged, that people are still free in Canada to voluntarily follow some of the goodness of the teachings in the Bible. To remember for themselves, that there was a time that marriage was considered so sacrosanct and holy, that a divorce in Canada could only be made legal upon the passage of a bill in the Parliament of Canada. A time when people heard God say in the Bible that He hates divorce; a man or a woman, covering themselves with anger like a coat, and not remembering the friend, the spouse of their youth. And this freedom, and not legislation, will attract people to the Gospel, because the Gospel is good.

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