Insisting on straight answers from Sloan
Derek Sloan won’t win this month’s Conservative Party leadership, but the MP for Hastings—Lennox and Addington will be influential in deciding who does become the new leader of the opposition. The darling of social conservatives and the Christian right, he’s positioned himself as an almost Trump-like figure and was rightly criticized when he questioned the national loyalties of Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam.
Equally worrying is his stance on the LGBTQ community and other social issues. The timing is sharp because the new leader will succeed Andrew Scheer, who managed to tie himself up in Gordian knots of unease as he tried to hide his orthodox Catholicism when questioned why he’d made yet another clumsy comment about homosexuality. An astute politician may have been able to deflect more effectively. Thing is, why should they? Freedom of religion is fundamental to our culture and body politic and rather than ask Sloan to be silent, we should simply insist that he be clear and straightforward.
He’s a devoted member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the first from that denomination to be elected a Canadian MP. It’s a Protestant denomination and most of its beliefs are found elsewhere within evangelicalism. Unlike other churches, it observes a Saturday Sabbath and places particularly high stress on the imminent Second Coming of Christ. There are perhaps 25 million followers worldwide, fewer than 60,000 of whom are in Canada.
The moral teaching of the organization is in many ways loving and charitable, but, just as with most on the conservative wing of Christianity, it’s also often literalistic and unbending.
Also like other churches, not all of its members embrace all of its views; but Sloan certainly seems to do so. On abortion, for example, Adventists state, “In God’s original plan every pregnancy should be the result of the expression of love between a man and a woman committed to each other in marriage,” but “unfortunately, since the entrance of sin, Satan has made intentional efforts to mar the image of God by defacing all of God’s gifts — including the gift of procreation.” Abortion is “out of harmony with God’s plan for human life.”
On sexuality, “sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman. The Bible makes no accommodation for homosexual activity or relationships. Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden.” It continues, “Seventh-day Adventists are opposed to homosexual practices and relationships.”
On trans rights, “Those who experience incongruity between their biological sex and gender identity are encouraged to follow biblical principles in dealing with their distress. They are invited to reflect on God’s original plan of purity and sexual fidelity.” And, “With all believers, transgender people are encouraged to wait on God and are offered the fullness of divine compassion, peace, and grace in anticipation of Christ’s soon return.” I’d be delighted to debate theology with them because my studies have led me to a radically different place. But what does this say about someone who aspires to lead all Canadians? Sloan told an Adventist magazine that he became an MP “because I thought that God was leading me, and that God had placed me in the riding at an opportune time.”
To try to forbid people from the public square due to their religiosity tarnishes the democratic ideal and, even if desirable, simply wouldn’t work. The U.S. has a formal separation of church and state, yet is one of the most religiously influenced political systems in the world.
The answer, surely, is for simple truth. Politicians should declare their beliefs, be respectfully challenged but not ridiculed and then held accountable democratically. Catholic Paul Martin was exemplary when as prime minister he presented a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The bishop of Calgary said angrily that, “You’re either with the Church, or you are not.” Martin replied, “It is the right thing to do.”
Enough of media skirting the issue and asking about conclusions rather than reasons and no more of politicians performing the Scheer squirm. As Matthew’s Gospel has it, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ ” There, I’ve blurred the lines of faith. Didn’t hurt a bit.