Canadian Catholic Conference and Evangelical Fellowship Deeply Disappointed With New Marriage Law

OTTAWA, July 18, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada have expressed deep disappointment with the Liberal Government’s proposed legislation on the redefinition of marriage and the legislation’s reference to the Supreme Court.  In a release the CCCB said it continues to promote the traditional role of marriage, which is ‘the lasting union of a man and woman to the exclusion of others’ in opposition to that set out in the proposed legislation because ‘it discriminates against heterosexual marriage and the family, which will be deprived of their social and legal recognition as the fundamental and irreplaceable basis of society.’”  Bruce Clemenger, president of the EFC commented that the questions the government is asking the Supreme Court on the legislation “are far too limited”.  He said, “The most important question is whether the government must change the definition of marriage in order to meet the requirements of the Charter”  Janet Epp Buckingham, general legal counsel to the EFC said, “Many people in Canada do not realize the significant impact changing the definition of marriage will have on clergy. Clergy solemnize over three quarters of marriages in Canada. Clergy not only perform marriages that are recognized by the church but are officers of the state to solemnize civilly recognized marriages.”  See related LifeSite coverage:  Canadian Government Unveils Homosexual Marriage Legislation https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jul/03071701.html