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Catholic Cardinal Warns Senate of Impending Anti-Christian Prosecution With Gay 'Marriage'

OTTAWA, July 13, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada made a presentation to a committee of the Canadian Senate today on the homosexual 'marriage' bill.  Speaking for himself and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Ouellet said to the Senators, "we are turning to you in the hope that you will prevent the adoption of this unjust law."

The Cardinal made mention of situations where legal authorities have already trampled on rights of Christians who oppose same sex 'marriage' such as marriage commissioners who were forced out of their jobs for refusing on grounds of conscience to perform homosexual 'marriages.' "These attempts to intimidate persons who do not share the State's vision of marriage may well multiply after the adoption of Bill C-38," said the Primate of Canada. "Once the State imposes a new standard affirming that homosexual sexual behaviour is a social good, those who oppose it for religious motives or motives of conscience will be considered as bigots, anti-gay and homophobes, and then risk prosecution."

Cardinal Ouellet stressed the negative impact the legislation will have on children. "We are also most concerned by the foreseeable impact of a redefinition of marriage on Canada's most vulnerable citizens - its children. We cannot dismiss their needs and rights by imagining that tomorrow's society will not suffer from the repercussions of this legislation," he said. "The principal right of children is to be born of an act of love and to live in complete communion with a father and mother."

The Cardinal explained the reason the State owes recognition to married couples as opposed to homosexual couples saying, "Unlike same-sex couples, heterosexual couples naturally and most often transmit life. In giving new citizens to society, they render an essential social service to the State, which justifies a special status to their union."

Returning to the question of religious persecution Cardinal Ouellet left the Senators with some uncomfortable questions. "The Charter currently protects freedom of conscience and religion; however, in provinces that recognize the validity of same-sex marriage we are already witnessing lawsuits against persons and groups who do not share this vision. Must we now resign ourselves to being victims of discrimination for believing in the historical definition of marriage and wishing to teach, educate and preach according to our faith and conscience? Must a majority of parents accept it as inevitable, that schools and the media will transmit a vision of marriage contrary to their own?," he said.

See the Cardinal's full presentation:
http://www.cccb.ca/PublicStatements.htm?ID=1688

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