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Presbyterian Pastor Outraged with Prime Minister but Energized to Keep Fighting

OTTAWA, June 30, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Presbyterian pastor Tristan Emmanuel is a very busy man of late. The founder of Equipping Christians for the Public Square (the ECP Centre) debated homosexual activist Rev. Brent Hawkes on CTV News with Mike Duffy at 8:15 p.m. on the day of the gay 'marriage' vote. Later that Tuesday night, after the vote, he was a guest panellist on CH 11 News at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday morning he was on two radio morning news shows on CBC. All these programs focussed on the gay 'marriage' legislation.

His popularity is due in part to the fact that he is a outspoken pastor in his mid thrities willing to talk straight and loud with the media.

Speaking with LifeSiteNews.com on his reaction to the gay 'marriage' bill's passage, Rev. Emmanuel said he felt "Outrage at the audacity of this Prime Minister to stand there on the podium after the vote and preach to us about human rights.  The great fraud in all of this is that it had nothing to do with human rights, it has to do with the normalization of homosexuality and the destruction of the institution of marriage." That kind of straight talk from a religious leader is a welcome change in Canada where political correctness seems the cat that has got the tongues of most spiritual leaders.

"Certainly there is disappointment in the fact that we lost this battle," said Emmanuel. "However, I'm more convinced than ever that this isn't over.  Paul Martin and the federal Liberal government may feel that now that this battle over we'll go back to being quiet. But we have demonstrated successfully in the course of this year . . . We're beginning to see more aggressive, more intelligent, more savvy and more politically engaged activity on the part of Christians.  Christians now realize we can't sit back and do nothing.  We have lost this round but by no means is this the time to pack it in and go away."

The pastor who organized the marriage rally in Toronto which drew thousands says emphatically, "If people call me a one-issue person, I don't care." He clarifies, "I'm not a one-issue person but when you think about it the issue of marriage is worth defending and focussing energy on. Just like the issue of life, they are all linked anyway, you can't split them up, they are a package deal."

In a parting thought he adds, "Cynicism is not a Christian virtue. Too many Christians today, justify cynicism and thus justify indifference.  We believe God is in control.  We need to have a positive outlook. We have example after example of saints who have had to endure hardship but still have a positive attitude and keep working for Him."

jhw

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