It’s not the flag, it’s the message

Tolson Chapman recently wrote to the Telegram concerning the city and provinces’ decision to not fly the Christian Flag as an example of bias or persecution of Christians. (“St. John’s - inclusive and diverse” April 25.)

In Chapman’s words he declared “The Christian flag is a symbol of God’s love for all humanity regardless of one’s colour, race, religion or sexual orientation.”

I think the important point that Chapman fails to realize is that perhaps the objection to the flag raising wasn’t the idea of the Christian flag itself, but rather the group that promoted it.

At the time, in 2016, Chapman was a member of the St. Stephen the Martyr Parish, and I assume he still is, although I stand to be corrected.

The objection stems from many of the teachings of that church which concern not only same sex marriage but LGTBQ rights in general.

The parish’s own website declares itself a follower of both “Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans” and a group the affirms the “Jerusalem Declaration.”

You can search their websites yourself but it is without question that these groups promote the idea that same sex marriage should not be allowed and that homosexuality is a sin.

Hardly ideas that mesh with Chapman’s claim that the Christian flag promoted by his church is a symbol of love regardless of one’s sexual orientation.

As a resident of this province and the city of St. John’s I will continue to object to opportunities given to groups who actively oppose — the St Stephen Church of the Martyr promotes evangelism — the ideals of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a document Chapman has no issue using in his defence. David Banfield St. John’s