Another Reason I'm Proud of The United Church of Canada

Churches Mount Massive Lobby On Canadian Gay Marriage Vote

(Ottawa) Leaders from Canada's two largest denominations are treading the hallways on Parliament Hill today, presenting two differing views on a government plan to revisit the legalization of same-sex marriage.

On the one side are the Roman Catholic Church and a dozen socially conservative evangelical groups urging members of Parliament to vote to re-open the marriage debate and support repeal of the law enacted last year by the former Liberal government.

Opposing them is Canada's largest Protestant denomination, the United Church of Canada, which supports same-sex marriage.

The Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to present a motion in the current session asking MPs if they want to re-open the marriage debate. It fulfills a campaign promise to religious conservatives made by Harper but survey's of MPs show it is likely to fail.

The two smaller parties in Parliament - the Bloc Quebecois and the New Democrats - have pledged to vote in a block against the motion. All but about 30 of the Liberals also have said they would vote against the measure. At least 11 members of Harper's own party have voiced their opposition to revisiting the issue.

Catholic and evangelical leaders say they are targeting about 50 MPs they say can be swayed to vote for reopening the debate. United Church and gay rights groups say they intend to lobby the same group today.

The UCC also has sent a letter to all Members of Parliament stating its support for equal marriage.

"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 United Church's Moderator, the Right Rev. David Giuliano, in the letter.

Giuliano said that the current Civil Marriage Act strikes a good balance by protecting the rights of gay and lesbian persons, while not interfering with the rights of religious groups to practice their faith as they choose.

"It is our understanding that God's intention for all relationships is that they be faithful, responsible, just, loving, health-giving, healing, and sustaining of community and self," Giuliano's letter said.

"These standards apply to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples. The United Church recognizes that gay and lesbian members of our faith communities want to make lifelong commitments and have these commitments recognized in their faith communities. They seek to make their solemn vows with communities of faith who will support them in their commitments."

Links:
365Gay.com
Globe & Mail
CNW Wire