CALGARY — Faced with human rights complaints, Calgary's outspoken Roman Catholic bishop says he will not be bullied into changing his views against homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

Bishop Fred Henry wrote a pastoral letter to his parishioners last January condemning same-sex marriage. A column based on the letter was also published in the Calgary Sun newspaper. "Since homosexuality, adultery, prostitution and pornography undermine the foundations of the family, the basis of society, then the State must use its coercive power to ... curtail them in the interests of the common good," Henry wrote.

The letter and column prompted two complaints against Henry to the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

A defiant Henry called a news conference Wednesday to respond to the complaints.

Henry said his rights to freedom of religion and free speech have been violated.

"Those that support same-sex marriage want to shut the churches out of this important debate," the bishop said.

"Those who favour same-sex marriage have been given a full opportunity to state their views on the issue. But now they are saying anyone who speaks out against same-sex marriage is discriminating against homosexuals."

In her complaint, Carol Johnson of Calgary said she was alarmed by Henry's remarks.

"I believe the publication of Bishop Henry's letter is likely to expose homosexuals to hatred or contempt," wrote Johnson.

"These remarks are particularly dangerous when made by a person in a position of trust and authority."

A second complaint from Norman Greenfield was received by both Henry and the commission on Tuesday.

Stephen Lock, regional director of Egale Canada, a gay rights lobby group, said he doesn't dispute that Henry has an obligation to represent the views of his church, including on same-sex marriage.

But Lock said lumping homosexuality in with things like pornography and prostitution is going too far.

"When anyone starts calling for the coercive power of the State to suppress or curtail any legal activity, that's really oppressive to be saying stuff like that," Lock said.

Henry said while he expected there would be complaints about his position, he is disappointed Alberta's human rights commission didn't dismiss them immediately.

"I assumed that the one who fields this would have looked at this and said this doesn't stand. This is not an Ernst Zundel case by any means," said Henry. "We cannot give credence to this."

The outspoken bishop is no stranger to controversy. He sent a letter to his Calgary parishes during the last federal election campaign, declaring that Prime Minister Paul Martin was a bad Catholic for supporting same-sex marriage.

It could take a year for the complaints against Henry to work their way through the Alberta Human Rights Commission, said Marie Riddle, the agency's director.

Henry said he will fight the complaint to the end.

"My time is pretty valuable and I'm not going to go through a Mickey Mouse procedure with no hope of success," he said.

Other anti same-sex marriage groups were rallying behind Henry.

Focus on the Family, a Christian group based in British Columbia, said it's troubling that Henry has become the subject of human rights complaints.

Churches and religious groups need to be able to talk about issues like homosexuality and same-sex marriage without being muzzled, said Derek Rogusky, one of the group's spokesmen.

"We're talking about changing something that's a foundational institution of our society, we're not talking about changing the speed limit on the street," he said from Langley, B.C.

"If anyone is successful in bringing charges against Bishop Henry, the would come after other organizations. It shows that religious freedom protections that the government talks about really aren't there."