Politics
Thursday May 4, 2006
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
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&se...
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Alberta MLA Proposes Protection of Fundamental Freedoms Act
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/apr/06041304.html
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- Over 100 MPs Oppose Morgentaler Order of Canada - List Released Today
- National Right to Life calls GOP Platform "Strongest Ever" on Life Issues
- Exclusive: Prominent Rabbi Says Lieberman was Excommunicated and it is Still in Effect
- Comments on August 28 LifeSiteNews
- McCain Himself Accuses Obama of Courting Infanticide
- Two More Bishops Make 8 Who Have Come Out against Pelosi's 'Catholic' Abortion Theology
- VP Hopeful Biden about Pro-Abortion Stance: "My Views are Totally Consistent with Catholic Social Doctrine..."
- Protests and Official Mourning Declared following Mexican Pro-Abortion Ruling
- Pure Utilitarianism: Doctors Justifying Killing Infant Patients for Organ Donation
- Philippines Court Rejects Claims of New York Based Pro-Abortion Group
- MPs Affirm Continued Support for C-484 - Unborn Victims of Crime Bill
- Brazilian Supreme Court Hears Testimony on Eugenic Abortions
- Cells Transformed into Insulin Producers in Research that Makes Embryonic Research "Irrelevant"
- Priests for Life Nine Week Novena Prayer for Election Begins September 1st
Most Read this Week
- Biden's Bishop Will not Permit Him, Even if Elected VP, to Speak at Catholic Schools
- "Catholic" Speaker Pelosi Denies that Catholicism Condemns Abortion
- Cardinals, Bishops and Congressmen Slam Pelosi on Abortion
- Talk a Woman out of Abortion in the UK? Two Years Jail
- Mainstream Media Admits Anti-Family Bias: NBC to 'Gay' Activists: 'Your Victories Are Our Victories'
- Pelosi Spokeswoman About-face: Catholic Church "Clear" on Life Teaching After All - But Catholics Need Not Listen
- Exclusive: Prominent Rabbi Says Lieberman was Excommunicated and it is Still in Effect
- American Apparel Defends "Pornographic" Billboards
- New York Cardinal - Pelosi Not Worthy of "Providing Leadership in a Civilized Democracy"
- Pro-Life Billboard Vandalized with "Joker" Face Paint and Slogan: "Why So Serious?"
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.