Politics
Thursday February 3, 2005
Seven Newfoundland Commissioners Resign Rather than “Marry” Same-Sex Couples
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ST. JOHN'S, Nfld. February 3, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Seven marriage commissioners in the province have resigned after an activist judge ordered commissioners to perform same-sex “weddings” or face dismissal.
Seven of 67 commissioners chose to resign their posts prior to a January 31 deadline set by the Newfoundland Supreme Court.
Gander mayor Claude Elliot told the Canadian Press that forcing commissioners to resign is an assault on religious freedoms. “It was pretty straight forward from the (provincial) Department of Justice that you either had to perform them or resign,” he said Wednesday.
The Federal Justice Minister said last year that there would be provisions in the new bill ensuring marriage commissioners would not be compelled to perform the ceremonies. But the licensing and enforcement of commissioners is a provincial matter.
At least eight Saskatchewan commissioners have resigned after being denied the choice to refuse same-sex couples. In Manitoba, after a similar order, at least 12 have resigned. Several resignations followed a British Columbia ultimatum, since the legalization of same-sex “marriage” there in 2003.
“A democracy that gives those people the right to be married should also give me the right to say no to marrying them,” Elliot said, as reported by The Globe and Mail. “But that right has been taken away from me.”
“I have nothing against gays or lesbians, but I felt it would be better not to perform any marriages at all,” Elliot said. “The clergy can be exempt because they are a church and the Prime Minister can hide under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms but we are left to take the brunt of the flak.”
Commissioner Diz Dichmont, meanwhile, a 79 year-old retired schoolteacher said, “I'm disappointed that I've had to step down.” She said her reason for stepping down was that same-sex ‘marriage’ “is unscriptural.”
“All the major faiths have had concerns about same-sex activity. And religious officials are allowed to have scruples but apparently a civil servant is not,” she said.
St. John’s homosexual-activist group EGALE vice-president Gemma Hickey said she was not surprised some commissioners would resign, given that homophobia is especially prevalent in rural areas.
Elliot maintained his decision had nothing to do with homophobia. “It's the marriage part that's got everyone upset. I don't think Canada is ready to change the definition of marriage.”
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