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. (Details)

Mr. Harper announced last June that he would hold a vote in the fall. (Details) 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. (Details)

Over 10,000 same-sex couples have been married in Canada in the over three years since Ontario first began issuing them marriage licences. (Details)

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