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Harper Addresses Muslim Group on Same-Sex Marriage while Toronto Gays March

MISSISSAUGA, June 27, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Stephen Harper’s absence from the Toronto “Gay Pride” parade was noted in a number of major newspapers but only a few mentioned where he was while it was happening. Most media consider opposition to same-sex marriage to be strictly a Christian phenomenon; they often omit to mention that no established religious tradition has ever endorsed homosexuality as a legitimate ‘lifestyle.’

While NDP leader and long-time pro-abortion activist, Jack Layton, Toronto Mayor David Miller, and Toronto’s new Chief of Police attended the parade, Stephen Harper was in Missisauga speaking on same-sex “marriage” to the 29th annual convention of the  Ahmadiyya Muslim organization of Canada. The event that attracted 35,000 Canadian Muslims. Ahmadiyya Muslims number more than 200 million members worldwide.

Harper told the group, “Most Canadians believe that the traditional definition of marriage should be recognized.”

“If we refuse to speak about this issue, who will stand up and protect your faith and your religion? Hindus, Christians and Muslims shall not be ignored or shamed into silence,” said Harper, speaking to the men’s section of the convention.

Liberal Party insistence upon legitimizing homosexual unions has shaken this once-staunch Liberal stronghold. This was the first time the group has had Stephen Harper to speak.

Similar to Christianity, Islam teaches that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman, and that any sexual activity outside marriage is sinful. The information page on the Ahmadiyya website continues, “More specifically, Islam forbids ‘lewdness’ between men and men, women and women, and men and women who are not married to each other.”

Naseem Mahdi, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Canada, said that though the Muslim community in Canada respects the government, “we deem it essential to forewarn that intervention with laws of nature results in wrath of God.”

“People from around the world are flocking to Canada to tie the knot in the same-sex marriage,” Mr. Mahdi said. “Toronto's pride day parade is one of the largest in the world. I guess the lure of tourist money is very enticing.”

The group’s website site explains that numerous teachings of the prophet Muhammad, “condemn sodomy as hateful in the sight of God. This position against homosexuality supports the Islamic teaching of chastity and of the sanctity of sex within marriage.”

HW

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