Pubdate: Tue, 1 Sep 2009
Source: Langley Advance (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.langleyadvance.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248
Author: Travis Erbacher

SCHIZOID APPOINTMENT CROSSES LINE

Dear Editor,

After already appointing a climate change denier and a creationist who
believes the earth is 5,000 years old to important scientific
positions within his administration, Stephen Harper has officially
crossed the line.

He appointed evangelical pastor Chris Summerville to head a committee
to study the "link" between marijuana and schizophrenia.

Mr. Summerville, the interim CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of
Canada, is not a medical doctor and has no background in science. He
has mental health issues and is a creationist and a biblical
literalist who once said, "Satan will use any opportunity to attack,
including mental illness."

A member of his evangelical group said this is "a wonderful
opportunity" for Christians to influence public policy. This should
not only be highly offensive to Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Catholics,
agnostics, and atheists who do not wish to have Pastor Summerville's
fundamentalist Christian agenda financed by their tax dollars, it
should scare any person who values science, morality, and truth in
public policy.

This government has guaranteed that studies will be unscientific
propaganda, to further a religious agenda that makes a mockery of the
values of secular democracy.

There is a correlation between schizophrenia and cannabis, but a
correlation is not a causal link.

We need scientists and doctors, not religious officials, to
investigate the true causes of mental illness.

People who have mental health issues need medicine and therapy, not
exorcisms.

And it is obscene to fund a religiously motivated agenda with public
funds.

Travis Erbacher,
Langley
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake