Caught in a System

Re Numbed and Helpless, February

I’d like to update you on the situation of John Calvin, mentioned in the February Pop Christianity article. John is a young gay man in Edmonton who is being deported to Palestine for family connections to Hamas. In Palestine, he faces a death sentence for apostasy, having converted to Christianity. John has appealed his deportation and has submitted a Pre – removal Risk Assessment. At this point, there is not much more he can do but to wait and try to keep his spirits up. In response to his story, 12 different faith groups in Edmonton—including Pentecostal, Muslim, Presbyterian and Mennonite—came together to pray for John and to raise awareness of LGBT refugees in Canada. Sadly, there are many people like John caught in a system that leaves little room for forgiveness and compassion.