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In a Regina case that tried to pit religious freedom against press freedom, a judge has dismissed a human rights complaint stemming from a refusal to run an anti-gay newspaper ad.

“In the circumstances of this case, there has been no discrimination,” Justice Darryl Brown said in his recent decision. “In addition, Postmedia’s freedom of expression in the context of freedom of the press is more significantly impacted than Mr. (Hugh) Owens’ freedom of religion in the circumstances here,” he added.

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At issue was a biblical-based advertisement Owens tried to place in the Leader-Post (LP), which is owned by Postmedia, in June 2013 — only to have it rejected for publication. His proposed ad referenced three verses from the New International Version Bible that condemn homosexuality. The Regina man wanted the ad to run during Gay Pride Week.

Postmedia maintained the newspaper was well within its rights to reject the ad — not because it was religious, but because it was offensive.