Zealots kill the message

As someone who has championed the pro-life cause in mass media for more than 20 years now, I can testify to how challenging it can be and how hard one has to struggle to be heard. Lately, however, we’ve been making some genuine breakthroughs; sometimes in spite of rather than because of so-called allies. But every time we take a step forward there is always someone who tries to pull us back. Witness Peter LeBarbera, president of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), who was invited to speak to the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association in Weyburn in mid-April.

I interviewed LeBarbera on my television show and he’s hardly a monster. Just another simplistic obsessive, convinced that if he condemns homosexuality in crass and banal terms and tones long and loud enough the world will suddenly see the light. He speaks a great deal about “homo-fascists” or “homo-Marxists” and is not taken seriously amongst those on either side of the debate.

As soon as it was announced that he was speaking, however, a campaign began to have him banned. Which is wrong, wrong, terribly wrong. He has an absolute right to speak. Just as does his friend and Weyburn resident Bill Whatcott, who LeBarbera told me was instrumental in inviting him.