Wednesday February 23, 2005
Ontario Bill to Enshrine Same-Sex Marriage in Province; Offers Limited Religious Protection
TORONTO, February 23, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Ontario government has introduced legislation that would, if passed, amend more than 70 Ontario statutes to suit court orders that declared homosexual ‘marriage’ must be permitted. Attorney General Michael Bryant announced Bill 171 yesterday saying, “By changing the definition of spouse in these statutes, our government is helping to ensure that Ontario laws don't discriminate against same-sex couples, including those who choose to marry."
The proposed bill also includes provisions to clarify that religious officials cannot be compelled to perform marriages or use their sacred places for the celebration of marriages that are inconsistent with their religious beliefs. However, the bill fails to protect civil marriage officials or anyone else in situations affected by same-sex unions, who have religious or conscience objections, from being coerced into marrying homosexual couples or providing other services related to same-sex unions.
Marriage commissioners in several provinces have been told they must perform same-sex marriages or resign.
The legislation comes in subservient response to a June 2003 ruling by activist judges with the Ontario Court of Appeal who upheld a Divisional Court decision that the common law definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman was contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. On July 17, 2003 the federal government asked the Supreme Court of Canada to provide an opinion on whether Parliament could change the legislative definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
On December 9, 2004 the Supreme Court refused to rule on the question of whether traditional marriage violated the Charter.
"Our government believes this is the right thing to do," said Bryant for the Ontario Liberal Government.
See the bill online:
http://www.ontla.on.ca/documents/Bills/38_Parliament/Session1/b171_e.htm
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