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Canadian Government Unveils Homosexual Marriage Legislation

Marriage to be only "the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others"

OTTAWA, July 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The federal government today unveiled unprecedented legislation stating that "Marriage for civil purposes is the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others."

"I believe the draft bill strikes the proper balance," said Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, "The government of Canada is doing the right thing at the right time in our history. ... We're talking about a clear change in the definition of marriage."

Rather being introduced in the House of Commons, the Bill, titled an Act Respecting Certain Aspects of Legal Capacity for Marriage, was presented directly to the Supreme Court with three questions: (1.) Does the act fall within the exclusive legal authority of the federal government? (2.) Does the act respect the constitutionally guaranteed rights expressed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? and (3.) Do the religious-freedom guarantees in the Constitution protect religious officials who refuse to sanctify same-sex marriages that violate their beliefs?

Cauchon told the Globe and Mail that the bill "recognizes all Canadians under the Charter while answering that freedom of religion and other fundamental values in our Charter is equally respected."

The largest opposition party, the Canadian Alliance, will not directly address the core issue of the importance of marriage for society, although many individual Alliance MPs are strongly pro-family and opposed to the government's move. The Alliance's only official policy is that the party "upholds the traditional definition." Justice Critic Vic Toews, personally a staunch defender of marriage, told reporters that Ottawa is "bowing down to the courts."

For Globe and Mail coverage:
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030717.wsexx0717_2/BNStory/Nat...

For Canadian Press coverage:
http://www.canada.com/national/story.asp?id=5AA8FAE4-F628-4E62-BBAA-7EB89CAB23FD

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