Canadian Anglican Bishop Is Suing Blogger For Defamation

In Canada, Michael Bird, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara, Ontario, has filed a defamation lawsuit against a blogger whose posts, Bird charges, holds him up to ridicule and contempt. According to yesterday's Hamilton Spectator, the lawsuit, which was filed in February, claims that David Jenkins' blog Anglican Samizdat has described Bird as a weak, ineffectual leader, a thief, an atheist and as someone with a sexual fetish. According to a blog posting by Jenkins, the statement of claim cites 31 separate blog postings.  The suit asks for $400,000 in damages and an injunction against Jenkins publishing further comments about Bishop Bird.  In a statement of defense, Jenkins says that many of the postings cited were humor or satire, and that others were fair comment on a public figure.  He says that the lawsuit is attempting to limit his freedom of expression and religion protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights.