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St. Michael's Hospital Flaunts its Pride

Posted by Corina / December 21, 2008

pride flagIt's that time of year. People stop and reflect on what really matters, and apparently, when it comes to Suresh Dominic of Campaign Life Catholic, what really matters is removing the gay agenda from St. Michael's Hospital.

Though a pride flag has flown in St. Michael's emergency department for almost 10 years (since the merger with Wellesley), LifeSiteNews.com reported their recent discovery of the flag as a "revelation about the hospital".

"It is sad to see St. Michael's hospital promoting the homosexual agenda. In the past the same hospital has funded the Gay Pride parade. A Catholic institution should know well that promoting such a destructive lifestyle is against Christian charity."

And this latest injection of homophobic toxicity is Christian charity? Blasphemy.

Reading anything on LifeSiteNews.com should be done with caution and a giant boulder-sized grain of salt. I started to poke around some other articles, stopping as soon as I hit an article on abortion methods which included a partial birth abortion at 32 weeks. Clearly a sensationalist website, LifeSiteNews.com's recent call to have the flag removed from St. Mike's ER department is equally ludicrous. As are Suresh Dominic's statements on Santa handing out condoms, promoting "an ideology of casual sex on busy public streets".

Speaking with Sarah Baker, representative for St. Mike's, she informed me that the flag has been up in the ER department for a very long time. Indeed, the hospital has always taken a strong stand in support of the gay community, and the LifeSiteNews article acknowledges St. Mike's sponsorship of the Pride Parade and support for equality amongst its patients. Of course, it also reduced Pride Week to " ...a homosexual men's picnic at Toronto Island's nude beach, and a 'dyke striptease unlike any you've seen before,' amongst other similar events."

The concern over the flag seems to be that St. Mike's is "renouncing its Christian identity in the name of 'a greater common good'." But it seems to me, that if Christian Identity is no longer in line with the greater common good, then it has no place in our society - and frankly, shouldn't call itself Christian at all.

Toronto has some fantastic Christian/Catholic representatives who show tremendous support for our gay community, and for the value of equality, respect and tolerance in our society. Thankfully, the moral outrage of a few intolerant troublemakers has had absolutely no impact on St. Mike's commitment to supporting Toronto's gay community, and Sarah Baker advised that the flag will stay up just as it is, and will for a long time to come.

Photo by Tanja in the blogTO Flickr pool

Discussion

17 Comments

Justin / December 21, 2008 at 05:27 pm
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This 'lifesitenews' sure has a way with PR. Maybe I live in a logic bubble, but is there really anyone taking a story seriously about a guy who saw a flag in a window and thought it meant an entire business had an entire gay agenda? If that's how these supposed 'moralists' scratch and claw their way into view - pretty pathetic... and amusingly feeble.
jack / December 21, 2008 at 05:48 pm
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Jesus hanged out with 12 guys all the time.. what does that tell you? he loved male bonding?
jamesmallon / December 21, 2008 at 06:47 pm
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As a lapsed-Catholic, but teacher in a Catholic school, I always point out that Jesus respected the scorned, and scorned the respected. Funny, kids always understand that logic fine; what the hell is it that happens to adults?
Guy Lafleur / December 21, 2008 at 07:29 pm
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aren't we just supposed to ignore these crazies
bstewart23 / December 21, 2008 at 08:59 pm
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Call me crazy, but at this time of year? Shouldn't these Christianist wingnuts have other, more important things to focus on?
Eric / December 21, 2008 at 10:40 pm
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It's funny how these site never include comment spaces.

I say you've hit the nail on the head with your commentary, especially with the common good part.
Andrew / December 21, 2008 at 11:43 pm
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Is it really that slow a news day?
Heather / December 22, 2008 at 12:10 am
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"A dyke striptease unlike any you've ever seen before?"

Just how many are they comparing them too?
Sean / December 22, 2008 at 05:29 am
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I hope to heck not to be a patient at that hospital. I may get infected with aids.
Ratpick / December 22, 2008 at 08:35 am
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"Thankfully, the moral outrage of a few intolerant troublemakers has had absolutely no impact on St. Mike's commitment to supporting Toronto's gay community, and Sarah Baker advised that the flag will stay up just as it is, and will for a long time to come."

Just makes me wonder why would you bother to write this piece and give the "intolerant troublemakers" publicity.
Dead Robot / December 22, 2008 at 08:47 am
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Let's not forget that St Mikes was known for not allowing people into the rooms of their dying partners, during the onset of the AIDS crisis.

You've come a long way, baby! Here's hoping these other idiots catch up.
Diane / December 22, 2008 at 10:45 am
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"Call me crazy, but at this time of year? Shouldn't these Christianist wingnuts have other, more important things to focus on?"

Like moving Jesus' birthday to December 25th and trying to turn a long-standing winter solstice celebration into their exclusive religious observation?
Christopher King replying to a comment from Sean / December 22, 2008 at 11:27 am
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Re: Sean

I hope that comment's in jest.
Mark replying to a comment from Sean / December 22, 2008 at 01:27 pm
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RE: "I hope to heck not to be a patient at that hospital. I may get infected with aids."

Sean, you're not at risk. I'm sure that Sick Childrens' Hospital is where you'd be treated.
jack replying to a comment from Sean / December 22, 2008 at 07:56 pm
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Sean, don't worry about getting Aids.. you are more likely to get HPV up your ass from sharing the 12 inch dildo with the hooker you picked up at queen's park
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Daniel / August 24, 2011 at 04:06 pm
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"But it seems to me, that if Christian Identity is no longer in line with the greater common good, then it has no place in our society - and frankly, shouldn't call itself Christian at all."

That's a contradiction in terms. You can't define Christian by what *you* think it is!

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