Controversial Christian flag removed as provincial, national flags flown at half-mast
Ariana Kelland and Laura Howells | CBC News | Posted: March 23, 2016 12:55 PM | Last Updated: March 23, 2016
'We are Christian and we stand for love and peace,' says Rev. Howard Hynes
The pastor of the church that organized a Christian flag raising at various government buildings in the St. John's area this week says he doesn't understand all the negative backlash.
A Christian flag was taken down from a pole outside the Confederation Building in St. John's Wednesday, after complaints were received from the public, and inside the legislature.
The flag was raised at St. John's and Mount Pearl city halls as well as the Confederation Building for Easter Week.
But almost immediately, the move drew criticism from some members of the House of Assembly and the general public, who saw the flag as a symbol of a "divisive approach to Christianity."
Rev. Howard Hynes is the pastor at St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Network Church, which organized the flag raisings.
Hynes said the flag does not represent anti-homosexuality, adding he doesn't understand why people reacted so negatively.
All I can say is that we're not anti anything. We are Christian and we stand for love and peace. - Rev. Howard Hynes
The flag is a symbol of their faith and "our calling as Christians," Hynes said, and does not represent bigotry or exclusivity.
"It seems like, as Christians, even in this part of the world, we're facing more and more opposition and hostility," he said.
"Frankly I don't understand why, when we raise a flag with a cross on it or we raise a cross, that it incites such a visceral reaction from people who say all kinds of nasty things about us or about others who raise the flag."
'We stand for love and peace'
Hynes defended his church, saying while it is traditional, it welcomes everyone.
"Look, we are a traditional Christian church, there's no doubt about it. We uphold the tenets of scripture, but our church, we welcome everyone," he said.
"All I can say is that we're not anti anything. We are Christian and we stand for love and peace."
Hynes said the goal of raising the Christian flags was to draw attention to the "plight of Christians around the world who are persecuted."
'Lack of clear policy'
Meanwhile, Premier Dwight Ball told the St. John's Morning Show Wednesday the flag being raised and the subsequent backlash shows "it was a lack of clear policy within government."
"Right now, what it means and based on the aftermath and the response that [we've] seen, I think it's clearly a decision that will have to now be made by members of the House of Assembly."
In the meantime, the flag was taken down Wednesday morning as the province prepared to put both the provincial and national flags at half-mast, to mark the tragedy in Brussels.
NLTA takes flag down
Ball later issued a statement on why the flag was taken down.
"Out of respect, we have decided to lower the Canadian, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Union Jack flags at the Confederation Building," Ball said in the statement.
"This is an act of unity to demonstrate that acts of violence anywhere in the world cannot be tolerated."
Ball said it's policy for the courtesy flag to be removed when other flags are flown at half-mast.
The MHA for St. John's Centre, Gerry Rogers, said she was approached Tuesday by constituents and people who work in the building, "who were really concerned about really what does this flag represent?"
Meanwhile, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association has also taken its flag down.
A spokesperson said a "well-intentioned" employee put the flag up without authorization, but it has since been taken down.