Religious Leaders Say "No"
To Re-Opening Equal Marriage

Religious leaders affirm equal marriage while opponents lobby MPs

(OTTAWA - Oct 24, 2006) Religious leaders gathered on Parliament Hill today to let Canadians know that not all religions are opposed to marrying same-sex couples, and urged the Prime Minister to remove the cloud of uncertainty that now hangs over the heads of same-sex couples and all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Meanwhile, Defend Marriage and the Canada Family Action Coalition, both religious opponents of equal marriage, lobbied MPs to re-open the divisive equal marriage debate. They claim that with same-sex couples included in civil marriage, "religious institutions and facilities have no protection." See www.defendmarriage.ca for details.

"To reopen the debate and deny the right to equal marriage would be a violation of the religious freedom of faith communities, such as ours, who wish to recognize same-sex marriage as part of their religious practice," said The Right Rev. David Giuliano, Moderator of The United Church of Canada. "There are many pressing and significant moral issues facing Canadians - the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, growing poverty, climate change and healthcare benefits, to name a few. The issue of equal marriage has been nationally debated and resolved. To spend further precious time and the country's resources on the question in the House of Commons is morally inexcusable. We respectfully ask that Prime Minister Harper tell Canadians that he considers the matter settled."

"As Reform Jews, we no longer accept any of the theoretical rationales of the prohibitions against homosexual behaviour," said Rabbi Steven Garten of Temple Israel Ottawa. "We partake of a religious culture which affirms the right and the duty of its members to set aside those aspects of the tradition which no longer reflect our consciousness of reality and morality. We therefore lack any defensible moral or religious grounds to withhold from gays and lesbians the opportunity to express the sanctity of their unions in precisely the way that heterosexual couples have always expressed it: through marriage."

"We've been marrying same-sex couples for several years now," said Elizabeth Bowen, former President of the Canadian Unitarian Council. "Their love and commitment we've witnessed is a wonderful testament to our belief that no couple should be excluded from marriage simply because of their sexual orientation. Same-sex couples deserve the same joy, love, celebration and community support as everyone else."

"In 2003, we publicly stated our support for civil marriage to be available to all committed couples," said Carol Dixon, Past-Clerk of the Canadian Friends Service Committee, the peace and service arm of the Quakers. "Our spiritual discernment on this issue was shaped by the experience of wonderful, loving, same-sex couples in our community, many of whom are now legally married. Some were married within our community years before, but not legally recognized as married. Taking away the legal right to marry at this point would be terribly unjust for all committed gay and lesbian couples."

"Many people's religious beliefs embrace equal marriage," said Laurie Arron, National Coordinator of Canadians for Equal Marriage. "While many religions don't wish to marry same-sex couples, which is their right, the religion of some should not become the law for others. It's important that our laws be inclusive of all Canadians."

"Two-thirds of Canadians consider equal marriage to be settled and want to move on," Mr. Arron continued. "It's unfair to leave this uncertainty hanging. It's time for Mr. Harper to get on with it, rather than delaying to please the religious right."

Mr. Harper had planned to move forward with the vote in early October but, as Parliament resumed, he announced to his caucus that his government's motion to re-open the equal marriage debate would be delayed until just before Christmas. Equality opponents want a delay because they know Parliament is poised to defeat this motion. (See http://www.equal-marriage.ca/resource.php?id=518)

Mr. Harper announced last June that he would hold a vote in the fall. (See http://www.equal-marriage.ca/resource.php?id=506) On October 4 during Question Period, Mr. Harper re-stated his commitment to hold a vote this fall.

Polls have consistently shown that two-thirds of Canadians are against re-opening the divisive equal marriage debate. (See http://www.equal-marriage.ca/resource.php?id=514.)

Over 10,000 same-sex couples have been married in Canada in the over three years since Ontario first began issuing them marriage licences. (See http://www.equal-marriage.ca/resource.php?id=510.).)

For more information, please contact: Mary-Frances Denis, Communications Officer, The United Church of Canada 416.231.7680 x2016 (o), 416 885.7478 (c)

Rabbi Steven Garten, Temple Israel Ottawa, 613.224.1802

Elizabeth Bowen, former President, Canadian Unitarian Council, 613.236.4504

Carol Dixon, Past-Clerk, Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers), 613.228.2805

Laurie Arron, National Coordinator, Canadians for Equal Marriage, 416.839.7178 (c)

Church leaders have same-sex marriage showdown 24/10/2006 12:49:04 PM

Two groups of religious and community leaders faced off on Parliament Hill Tuesday at the National Marriage Caucus. The event was organized by the Canadian Family Action Council.

Charles McVety, of Canadian Family Action Council

The one-day Ottawa event was organized by the socially conservative lobby group Canadian Family Action Council.

It was an opportunity for interested parties to speak up about reopening Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act, which allows any two adults to marry.

Not all religious leaders oppose same-sex marriage. One group held a press conference to support same sex marriage. Their leaders encouraged the government not to reopen the debate.

"No couple should be excluded from marriage simply because of their sexual orientation...no one else is harmed," said Elizabeth Bowden of the Unitarian Church, which has been marrying same-sex couples for several years.

Rabbi Steven Garten of Temple Israel in Ottawa spoke out against a predominantly Christian-based opposition to same-sex marriage.

"The Jewish community is not of one mind about the sanctity of marriage," said Garten. "However it is of one mind about one religion imposing limitations on the beliefs of the others."

A group of religious leaders who support the reopening of Bill C-38 also spoke. The group emphasized it isn't asking for Bill C-38 to be repealed yet -- just that it be studied more closely.

Louis Deserres of Vote Marriage Canada says the current law may protect the rights of adults at the expense of the rights of children.

"Children have a right and it's confirmed by nature," said Deserres, "Same-sex marriage says it's legal and acceptable to take away the natural parent of a child."

Members of the group supporting same-sex marriage cited research by the Canadian Psychological Association that shows children benefit by having the relationship between their parents sanctioned by society, regardless of the sex of their parents.

The Religious Society of Friends, a Quaker Christian organization, hopes the government will not spend time revisiting same-sex marriage, but instead open dialogue on poverty, global warming, illiteracy and war.

Both sides have meetings planned with MPs to lobby their position.

The federal government is preparing to hold a vote on whether to reopen the same-sex marriage issue. It is also considering how to protect the rights of clergy and teachers who disagree with same-sex marriage, if Bill C-38 is left unchanged.