Russ Kuykendall dropped by Wildrose Party after anti-gay blog post surfaces

The Wildrose Party has blocked a potential candidate who planned to run in Calgary-Varsity after anti-gay remarks he made several years ago were made public.

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Russ Kuykendall was disqualified by the party from running for the nomination in his riding after it was revealed he wrote an article in 2007 in which he objected to a gay pride brunch being held in a Catholic church.

"The message that appears to be sent to Catholic Christians who don't accept this 'lifestyle' as acceptable is that 'equality' means that gay activists can take their agenda not just to your front door, but inside the door to places that are consecrated to the Catholic faith," he wrote in the blog post.

The party declined to provide a specific reason for its decision to disqualify Kuykendall from the nomination process.

According to news reports, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said Kuykendall was rejected following a vetting process.

The party has struggled to dispel a perception that it resists LGBT equality rights.

In the 2012 election, the party was riding high in the polls when it was derailed by controversies — including comments by one of its candidates, Allan Hunsperger.

In a blog, Hunsperger urged gays to repent or face an eternity in hell's "lake of fire." The storm of controversy grew when then-leader Danielle Smith refused to remove Hunsperger as a candidate.