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Alberta Bill on Same-Sex Marriage Likely to be Watered Down in Tory Caucus

Bishop Fred Henry expresses disappointment

By Gudrun Schultz

CALGARY, Alberta, May 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A bill that would allow teachers and students to opt out of discussions on same-sex marriage in the classroom, and give clergy and marriage commissioners freedom to refuse officiating at same-sex unions without retribution, is likely facing some critical cuts in today’s Conservative caucus meeting.

Ted Morton had introduced private member’s Bill 208, the Protection of Fundamental Freedoms (Marriage) Statues Amendment Act, last month with amendments to the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act, the Marriage Act, and the School Act. The bill offered protection to those who oppose homosexual activity.

“In a free society, the most important right is the right to disagree with and criticize government policy, and this bill enhances that right,” Morton told the Chochrane Times last month.

The Calgary herald reported today that the Tory caucus will likely axe two critical elements, one exempting teachers and students from courses discussing same-sex marriage, and the other allowing church officials to refrain from solemnizing gay unions.

Morton is resigned to accepting the changes to his bill and told the Herald he is “prepared to see it go through as amended". He added, “It will put in place a regime that allows people to live and let live” and “As long as people aren’t looking for confrontation and look for a co-operative way to deal with this…it should facilitate solving those issues.”

Without those amendments, the bill will only affect the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act, forbidding sanctions against Albertans who express their freedom of conscience and religion by supporting or opposing same-sex marriage.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association criticized the bill for requiring teachers to notify students and parents before introducing discussions on same-sex marriage, saying such restrictions would have the effect of a gag order on the issue.

Calgary Catholic Bishop Fred Henry, who supports the bill, said he is disappointed in the Klein government for failing to back the legislation, after Premier Klein pledged protection for Albertan’s religious rights.

“I thought that…[Klein] would be foremost in promoting this. I was rather surprised it wasn’t part of the government agenda,” Bishop Henry told the Herald.

See complete text of the bill
http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=bills_bill&selectbill=208

See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Alberta MLA Proposes Protection of Fundamental Freedoms Act
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/apr/06041304.html

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