'Messenger of God' not guilty of assaulting Toronto minister
Wednesday January 23, 2002
CHERRI GREENO - RECORD STAFF
TORONTO -- Minutes after being found not guilty of assaulting a Toronto pastor, Erika Kubassek did what every self-proclaiming messenger of God would do.
She praised the Lord.
"This is wonderful," she said, as she walked out of a Toronto courtroom yesterday. "Praise God."
The outspoken Cambridge woman, known for her bull-horn protests against what she believes to be anti-Christian behaviour, was charged with assaulting Rev. Brent Hawkes and disturbing a church service at Toronto's Metropolitan Community Church on Jan. 14, 2001.
She was found not guilty on the assault charge, but will have to return to court on Feb. 6 to speak to the disturbance charge, which was laid privately by the church last July.
Kubassek was charged after going to the front of the church during an 11 a.m. service and denouncing homosexuality.
A well-publicized marriage ceremony for two same-sex couples, using the Christian tradition of publishing banns, occurred later that afternoon.
Court heard that Kubassek pushed Hawkes after he tried to quiet her as she shouted Scripture at the front of the church. She said she had received a message from God telling her to go to the church and speak out against homosexuality.
She arrived at court yesterday with a friend and both bowed their heads in prayer before the proceedings started.
At issue was whether Kubassek had the criminal intent to assault Hawkes when she pushed him away.
Justice William Horkins said although Kubassek "exhibited extreme, rude judgment," she didn't go to the church with thoughts of assaulting someone.
He added that the assault was considered "trifling" by law.
"It was rude, offensive and definitely the wrong thing to do," he said, adding however, that "the conduct was incidental and to such a minor degree" that Kubassek should be found not guilty.
Hawkes sat through the judgment with his partner, who sketched a picture of Kubassek in a large book.
"I'm disappointed," Hawkes said after court. "People expect to go to a religious service . . . without having it disrupted or (being) assaulted."
Hawkes said he will continue to conduct same-sex marriages.
"It's important for us to press on," he said. "They (same-sex marriages) are legal, morally right and need to be supported."
Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell were one of the couples joined together at the ceremony last year.
Bourassa said yesterday he was upset with the verdict, but at least it would show that even a self-proclaimed prophetess of the Lord "will be held accountable whether God tells them to do it or not."
Bourassa and Varnell were also at the 11 a.m. service that day when Kubassek started denouncing homosexuality.
"It was devastating," Bourassa said. "We had a pastor wearing a bulletproof vest, we were escorted by bodyguards . . . we were expecting the worst that day."
Bourassa and Varnell are writing a book about their marriage, called Just Married: Gay Marriage and the Expansion of Human Rights. It talks about Kubassek and the disruption of the service.
During her trial last month, Kubassek spoke out against the homosexual unions, calling it "an abomination and a sin in God's eyes."
Yesterday, she said she'll continue to speak out against the lifestyle.
When asked if she would ever disrupt a church service again Kubassek said "sure," but that she would "be very careful not to put a finger on someone."
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Ooooh that craaaazeeee Erika!
Wednesday January 23, 2002
CHERRI GREENO - RECORD STAFF
TORONTO -- Minutes after being found not guilty of assaulting a Toronto pastor, Erika Kubassek did what every self-proclaiming messenger of God would do.
She praised the Lord.
"This is wonderful," she said, as she walked out of a Toronto courtroom yesterday. "Praise God."
The outspoken Cambridge woman, known for her bull-horn protests against what she believes to be anti-Christian behaviour, was charged with assaulting Rev. Brent Hawkes and disturbing a church service at Toronto's Metropolitan Community Church on Jan. 14, 2001.
She was found not guilty on the assault charge, but will have to return to court on Feb. 6 to speak to the disturbance charge, which was laid privately by the church last July.
Kubassek was charged after going to the front of the church during an 11 a.m. service and denouncing homosexuality.
A well-publicized marriage ceremony for two same-sex couples, using the Christian tradition of publishing banns, occurred later that afternoon.
Court heard that Kubassek pushed Hawkes after he tried to quiet her as she shouted Scripture at the front of the church. She said she had received a message from God telling her to go to the church and speak out against homosexuality.
She arrived at court yesterday with a friend and both bowed their heads in prayer before the proceedings started.
At issue was whether Kubassek had the criminal intent to assault Hawkes when she pushed him away.
Justice William Horkins said although Kubassek "exhibited extreme, rude judgment," she didn't go to the church with thoughts of assaulting someone.
He added that the assault was considered "trifling" by law.
"It was rude, offensive and definitely the wrong thing to do," he said, adding however, that "the conduct was incidental and to such a minor degree" that Kubassek should be found not guilty.
Hawkes sat through the judgment with his partner, who sketched a picture of Kubassek in a large book.
"I'm disappointed," Hawkes said after court. "People expect to go to a religious service . . . without having it disrupted or (being) assaulted."
Hawkes said he will continue to conduct same-sex marriages.
"It's important for us to press on," he said. "They (same-sex marriages) are legal, morally right and need to be supported."
Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell were one of the couples joined together at the ceremony last year.
Bourassa said yesterday he was upset with the verdict, but at least it would show that even a self-proclaimed prophetess of the Lord "will be held accountable whether God tells them to do it or not."
Bourassa and Varnell were also at the 11 a.m. service that day when Kubassek started denouncing homosexuality.
"It was devastating," Bourassa said. "We had a pastor wearing a bulletproof vest, we were escorted by bodyguards . . . we were expecting the worst that day."
Bourassa and Varnell are writing a book about their marriage, called Just Married: Gay Marriage and the Expansion of Human Rights. It talks about Kubassek and the disruption of the service.
During her trial last month, Kubassek spoke out against the homosexual unions, calling it "an abomination and a sin in God's eyes."
Yesterday, she said she'll continue to speak out against the lifestyle.
When asked if she would ever disrupt a church service again Kubassek said "sure," but that she would "be very careful not to put a finger on someone."
--------------------------------------
Ooooh that craaaazeeee Erika!
