OTTAWA, July 22, 2002 (LSN.ca) – The presidents of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and Focus on the Family Canada have joined pro-family groups in calling for the protection of marriage. In a letter to the federal Minister of Justice, Bishop Jacques Berthelet, President of the CCCB, said Canadian bishops are “greatly troubled by the recent decision of the Ontario Divisional Court that the definition of marriage be changed to include same sex partnerships.” Focus on the Family Canada president Dr. Darrel Reid warned that “If there is no appeal, then same-sex marriage will likely become legal in Ontario as of July 2004, and the rest of Canada will be under intense pressure to do the same.” Accordingly he urged “every concerned Canadian to immediately contact Mr. Cauchon, the Prime Minister, and their local Member of Parliament” to “appeal to them respectfully but in the strongest possible terms to appeal this court decision.” Both releases noted that the family is vital to society as the wellspring of successive generations. “Please take whatever measures are necessary to respect the deeply held convictions of the majority of Canadians that marriage between a man and a woman is a unique institution that is deeply rooted in our history, culture and religious traditions,” implored the CCCB letter.
See the CCCB and Focus on the Family releases: https://www.cccb.ca/english/fullpublice.asp?ID=107 https://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/news/071902.html Also from Focus, Read Part I and part IIof the full Ontario court decision: https://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/takeaction/110501_Ontariodecision1.pdf https://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/takeaction/110501_Ontariodecision2.pdf ACTION ITEMS FOR CANADIANS – APPEAL MUST BY FILED BY THIS FRIDAY:
1. Contact Liberal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon and ask him to appeal the decision immediately Phone (613) 992-4621 Fax (613) 990-7255 [email protected]
2. Contact your MP and urge that he/she ask Minister Cauchon to appeal the Ontario Court decision and ask them to confirm if they have done so. To find contact info for your MP click: https://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Source+SM