Wednesday January 28, 2004
Same-Sex Appeal Delayed by Prime Minister Paul Martin
EFC objects to distinction between religious marriage and civil marriage
OTTAWA, January 28, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Prime Minister Paul Martin has changed a request that the Supreme Court of Canada rule on the gay marriage issue. The contentious same-sex marriage appeal, originally scheduled for April 16, will likely delay any ruling until after an election that analysts predict Martin will call in the spring.
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler is expected to choose between one of two options to submit to the bench: either that the court decide whether the traditional definition of marriage - the union of a man and a woman - is in keeping with the Charter of Rights; or whether creating a separate status - that of a civil union versus marriage for same-sex couples - respects the Charter.
Cotler, after being sworn in as Justice Minister last year, said that "I believe that gays must have all the rights arising out of marriage." And in August, Cotler suggested to CTV News that civil unions become an option for all Canadians, describing such an institution as "a civil marriage with all the rights and benefits and obligations of a marriage."
In a press release today Conservative Justice Critic Vic Toews said "Today's announcement by the Liberal government to expand and postpone the reference on same sex marriage is just another cynical political tactic to win votes in the upcoming Spring election."
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) also responded today that it is "pleased to see the Justice Minister opening the door to allow the Supreme Court to address the fundamental issue, namely, does the Charter require that marriage be redefined…We believe that the Charter was not enacted to undermine the fundamental institutions of society."
Taking a strong stand against the Martin government's 'civil unions' charade, the EFC proclaimed, "We continue to object to the distinction between religious marriage and civil marriage... There is no bright line between religious and civil marriage. Religious marriages are recognized civilly. Changing the definition of marriage for civil purposes changes the definition of marriage, period."
Read the Canoe coverage at: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/01/28/327965-cp.html
Also see the related Focus on the Family review of the new Justice Minister's stand on gay marriage at: http://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/tfn/2003/121603.html
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