SAME-SEX MARRIAGES IN CANADA
Negative reactions to the "Civil Marriage Act"
becoming law

Sponsored link.

In this essay, "SSM" means "same-sex marriage." "MP" means
Member of Parliament.

Licenses refused; repeal of the law:
 | Marriage licenses in Prince Edward Island
(PEI): This is the only province other than Alberta that would not allow SSM before
the law was proclaimed. Two days after the bill was signed into law, the
province still was not able to make marriage licenses available to same-sex
couples. Mildred Dover, the province's attorney general, said: "We
were consulting about whether or not we could just scratch out the words
husband and wife, bride and groom, and maybe just put spouse and spouse.
We're not even sure what words you'd use." As of 2005-JUL-22, same-sex
couples can apply for a marriage license in PEI, but they won't be able to
receive one until the government figures out how to handle two people of the
same sex. Dover said: "We'll do it as quickly as we can. We didn't
prepare beforehand because, if we had prepared and changed all the wording,
then people would say 'Why did you do that when it hadn't passed?' "
Apparently, it never occurred to civil servants in the attorney general's office
to decide on a course of action before the law was passed by the Senate, so that
they would be ready when the need arose. |
Jim Culbert wants to apply to be a Justice of the Peace so that he can
marry same-sex couples in his tourist facility. He asked: "Why weren't
they ready? They knew it was going to come. You can't tell people, 'Oops
sorry, you'll have to go over to Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. We're not
ready for you'." 1

Negative reactions to the new law:
 | The Vatican
newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, said: "The distortion of God's plan for the
family continues. In Canada, homosexual unions have become equal to marriage."
Earlier, when the House of Commons approved C-38, the newspaper described it and
the similar law in Spain as: "...violent attacks aimed at the natural family
-- based on a union between a man and a woman." 3 |
 | Charles McVety, a spokesman for two conservative Christian groups -- Defend Marriage Canada and
president of Canada Christian College -- was one of the most vocal
opponents of SSM. He said that he was: "very sad that the state has
invaded the church, breached separation of church and state and redefined a
religious word." He promised that he would help organize religious and social
conservatives at the next federal election to oppose the re-election
of any MPs who voted in favor of C-38. He said:
"A new Parliament is going to readdress this issue and common sense
ultimately will prevail." 4 |
 | Canadian
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said in a statement on 2005-JUL-24
that same-sex couples should be careful when traveling outside the country. He
said:
"We cannot take for granted that rights that are recognized in
Canada will be recognized or accepted abroad. Attempting to enter a
country as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local
officials. The department also warns that, in certain countries, homosexual activity
is illegal and if convicted a person could risk a fine, imprisonment,
whipping, or even deportation and death. Gay couples are advised to be aware of their rights and also the laws of
the country they are planning to visit. Whether visiting or moving to
another country, Canadians should always take the time to learn about
the laws of the country for which they are destined before leaving
home."
Pettigrew's communications director, Sébastien Théberge, said that the warning was prompted partly by "concerns and
questions from Canadians," and the recent passage of the legislation.
He said: "Sometimes we take it for granted of what we have, and the kind of rights
we have in Canada. But it's not everywhere."
Foreign Affairs recommends that same-sex married couples surf its
consular affairs website at http://www.voyage.gc.ca to ensure they know their rights
and the laws of the country they want to visit.
5 |
 | According to
CTV.ca, Amnesty International, citing 2001 information, says homosexual
activity is illegal in countries such as Grenada, India, Iran, Trinidad, and
Jamaica. Officials could refuse a same-sex married couple's visa. But they may
allow them to enter as individuals. |
 | Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec and primate of the
Roman Catholic Church in Canada testified on JUL-16 that the church might
refuse to baptize the children of same-sex parents. He told a Senate
committee: "If I take the example of the ceremony of baptism, according to
our canon law, we cannot accept the signatures of two fathers or two mothers
as parents of an infant." This statement caused two senators to comment
later on Cardinal Ouellet's statement during debate in the Senate:
 | Senator Lorna Milne, a supporter of C-38, to recommended that Ouellet read a biblical verse in Luke 18:16.
It records Jesus' words "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God."
|
 | Another supporter, Senator Marcel Prud'homme said that it broke his heart
and troubled his mind. He said: "I asked myself, how can anyone turn
away a child? A child is a gift from God. How can anyone deny a child
baptism because his parents are not what we would like them to be?" |
 | We received an angry E-mail commenting that the church was simply
following a tradition found in many places in the Bible where the
"sins" of the "guilty" are transferred to
individuals who are innocent -- children in this case. |
Oueliet continued his testimony: "Even our priests sometimes do not feel
free to preach on homosexual and sexual morality because they are accused of
homophobia. Once the state imposes a new standard affirming that homosexual
behavior is a social good, those who oppose it for religious motives or
motives of conscience will be considered as bigots, anti-gay and homophobes,
and then risk prosecution."
Later, he told reporters that SSM had created an "insane atmosphere
[in Canada]. It is not good for religious freedom if you cannot express
your views and you cannot teach your beliefs." He explained the church's
position that it is "false, wrong and offensive" to equate SSM with
the opposite-sex couples who have married and "produced children to
society. This is something a homosexual union cannot offer to
society, and you would like Canadian society to accept that as justice
itself? I have to say I find that completely irrational." [He may be
unaware of the significant percentage of married lesbians who employ the
same assisted childbirth techniques as are used by infertile opposite-sex
couples -- in-vitro fertilization and artificial insemination -- to conceive
children.] 6,7 |
 | The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)
said, with reference to SSM: "Catholics are to continue to oppose it, and to
ensure that all provincial and territorial regulations on the solemnization of
marriages provide full protection for freedom of conscience and religion, as
guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." They praised those
Canadians of all faiths, and none, who worked for the defeat of C-38 and the
protection of the "universal definition of marriage....Unfortunately,
there are also some Catholics who have promoted the redefinition of marriage,
including politicians who have voted in its favor. In this regard, they are in
dissent from the teaching of the Church as enunciated by the Holy Father and the
Bishops. This is a serious and problematic matter." They indicate that the
debate "is far from over [and] will be a significant issue in the upcoming
federal election.....Pastors and all the faithful can be assured there will be
further reflections by this Conference and from individual Bishops to assist in
the ongoing defense of marriage and family life." 8 |
 | Ralph Klein,
premier of Alberta, said on 2005-JUL-20 that he is disappointed in the law, but
will follow it. He said: "I believe I speak on behalf of the majority of
Albertans. We strongly believe in the traditional definition of marriage."
9 |
 |
Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC) issued a news release on JUL-19 saying, in
part:"Canada is politically sick and democratically dysfunctional, says Canada Family
Action Coalition. Canada's Liberal 'ordered democracy' is very dictatorial
bordering on fascism. 'The forced passage of the redefinition of marriage has
destroyed any remaining illusions of democracy in this nation,' says Brian Rushfeldt, Executive Director of Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC). The
dictatorial imposition of homosexual marriage began with a few judges overriding
Parliament. It continued with the Prime Minister ordering MPs to vote in favor
of his 'values agenda.' It included a meaningless and stacked 'public hearing,'
and has now ended with a Senate being ordered to pass Bill C-38. This government
had no mandate - the majority of MPs ran last election on a pro-marriage
platform. 'This is the most illegitimate legislation a Canadian government has
ever passed,' said Rushfeldt. 'When legislation is illegitimate, then it is
likely that most Canadians will continue to oppose it and even ignore it.'
Democratically, Canada is a sick nation. 'Redefining marriage is the worst
possible resolution of the marriage battle; it has caused great division amongst
Canadians. It is a disaster for Canadian children. And it has shown how
'democratically dysfunctional' the Liberals are," said Rushfeldt."
10 |
 | Enshrine Marriage Canada wishes to prohibit same-sex couples
from marrying through a constitutional amendment
One-man, one-woman "Marriage, as it is now
and has been historically understood, would then be enshrined in the highest
law of the land." 12 They posted an essay by Douglas Farrow, an
associate professor at McGill University. He plans to not recognize C-38 as
a valid law; he recommends that everyone else follow suit. He writes:
"C-38 must not be recognized
because it attacks and marginalizes the state’s main competitors,
faith and the family, which provide a home for natural rights. It
thus threatens to subjugate and absorb civil society itself. To
recognize C-38 would be to hand over to the state what does not
belong to it, and so to cultivate tyranny. That this handing over is
demanded in the name of equality rights only makes it a more cynical
exercise of illegitimate power." He recommends that clergy
refuse to use the new unisex marriage license forms that provinces
are providing for both opposite-sex and same-sex couples, even if
this means that the couples they marry may not be legal." 11
|
 | Campaign Life Coalition
(CLC) issued a press release stating that the
passage of the bill "reeks of dishonor, dishonesty, and public disdain....Usually,
when a coup against a society is carried out it is done under the cover of darkness, with silent forces
working surreptitiously. However, the legal 'redefinition' of marriage in Canada
constitutes a public coup carried out in the full light of day and without any
sense of shame." Jim Hughes, CLC's national president,
said "The harm that will flow from this unnecessary legislation is incalculable,
and may take generations to undo. Decent and fair-minded Canadians deplore this
travesty of justice and should resolve to punish the perpetrators at the polls
regardless of political party." Aidan Reid, Director of CLC's Public Affairs in Ottawa,
lamented "A cabal of parliamentarians, encouraged by activist courts and abetted
by a compliant media, has foisted a new tyranny on Canadians - one that tramples
on the true nature of marriage, harms families and ignores the rights of
children." 12 |
 | Real Women of
Canada issued an Action Alert which said that:
"...even though the contemptible Bill C-38 was passed this week, our
efforts working against it have been worthwhile since they caused our forces to
become organized and deeply engaged in the political process....Most of us were
aware that we were mightily effective during the C-38 battle.....We were only
defeated by the unscrupulous maneuvers of a corrupt and manipulative government
which refused to allow the democratic process to function during the debate.
There will be a federal election within the next six months - the results of
which may lead to the repeal of Bill C-38. We can and will make a tremendous
difference in the outcome of that election, providing we continue to work
together, as we did on Bill C-38. We did impressive work undermining Bill C-38,
and we can and will do impressive work during the 2006 federal election campaign with God's Grace. Let us pray
and prepare ourselves for that battle. 13 |
 | Benigno Blanco,
Vice president of the Spanish Family Forum was interviewed by Fides
News Service about the new SSM law in Canada. He said: "What is happening
in many parts of the world is a syndrome of our day as absolute relativism
establishes its reign in more and more consciences in the West and people no
longer know the truth of things or even of their own human nature."
14 |
 | United Families Canada
issued a press release after C-38 was passed by the House of Commons. It said,
in part:
" 'The relative closeness of the vote and the fact that public opinion polls
continue to show a strong majority of Canadians oppose legalizing same- sex
marriage prove that this issue has not been finally resolved,' noted the Hon.
Dr. Grant Hill, P.C., Coordinator of United Families' Defend Marriage Canada
Project. 'It is clear that C-38 would not have passed if the government had
allowed a true free vote. It seems certain that we will be going to an election
within a year and Canadians will remember the undemocratic way the government
rammed this bill through for purely political reasons'."
" 'I predict that a number of MPs have ended their political careers as a result
of voting for C-38,' Dr. Hill said. 'Others in marginal ridings will have
especially interesting re-election campaigns if they choose to stand again'."
" 'The government has wrongly and inaccurately characterized this as a minority
rights issue,' said Jill Cahoon, Executive Director of United Families Canada,
'when in fact it is not. The courts have not ultimately made that determination
and the government has done the country a grave disservice by refusing to appeal
lower court decisions to the Supreme Court to get a clear legal resolution. We
will continue to educate Canadians on the facts and realities of the threats
posed by radically altering the core meaning of marriage in our society and to
work to have the will of the majority on this issue reflected in our laws'."
15 |
 | The Evangelical
Fellowship of Canada's (EFC) president, Bruce Clemenger said:"Today our government has chosen to redefine the foundational institution of our
society. The consequences of this massive social experiment have not been fully
examined or understood. With the passage of this legislation, the government has
reconfigured marriage as a primarily adult-centered institution, and surrendered
its ability to champion the rights of children to know and be raised by a mother
and a father. By reason of faith, conscience, practice and teaching, the EFC
cannot accept this new definition of marriage. Evangelical pastors and
congregations will continue to celebrate and promote marriage as the exclusive
and enduring union of one man and one woman. Further, we will continue to use
the language of husband and wife and promote marriage as the real and symbolic
affirmation of, and commitment to, the child's right to know and experience a
mother and a father....The unique, distinct nature of heterosexual marriage is
no longer recognized in our law and public policy, but we will continue to
promote and teach the biblical understanding of marriage in our families and
churches." 16 |
 | The EFC's director of law and public policy, Janet Epp Buckingham,
said:
"There is little doubt that religious freedom will be compromised by this change
in the definition of marriage. The amendments to the bill will provide some
measure of protection for religious freedom, but they are not sufficient and
cannot address the consequences of this legislation in areas of provincial
responsibility. Despite the very real threats to freedom of conscience and
religion, we will not allow fear of recrimination or prosecution to dictate what
our faith community believes and teaches in this regard. Marriage was not
created by the state but was recognized by the state for certain purposes.
Therefore, it cannot be changed by the state....The EFC will continue to press
for the freedom to dissent from the new legal definition of marriage and its
consequences, and work to ensure the provinces and territories enact legislation
to protect freedom of religion and conscience in this regard." 16
|
 | Vic Toews, a conservative MP who often spoke out against C-38 questioned the
decision to have Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin of the Supreme Court of
Canada sign the bill into law. The choice of the Chief Justice is
standard procedure whenever the Governor General is unavailable. In this
case, Governor General Clarkson was recovering from a medical operation.
Toews was interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen, and said: "Given
the controversy about this bill and the possible future role of the courts
in this . . . someone might now suggest the court has compromised its
independence by allowing a member of the judiciary to give royal assent."
17 |
 |
Focus on the Family Canada, a Fundamentalist Protestant advocacy agency,
commented on the new law which legalizes SSM across the country. They quoted
negative comments of Senators Leonard Gustafson, Anne Cools, and Vic Toews.
They did not quote any positive comments. They wrote: |
"The definition of marriage will continue to be a significant subject
of public debate as the country draws closer to another federal
election. There have been repeated calls from churches and organizations
to remember how their MP voted on this issue when they head back to the
ballot boxes. Other MPs have promised that this will be a subject that
they will try to revisit in the future, with a truly free vote for all
MPs."
"Focus on the Family Canada, along with many Canadians, is deeply
grieved by Parliament's passing of the Civil Marriage Act. 'Our
nation experienced a fundamental change with the passing of this
legislation - a change that will most substantially impact our children
and the generations that follow,' said Terence Rolston, president of Focus on the Family Canada.
"Yet, despite the disappointment, it is also very encouraging to see how
so many Canadians, especially TFN readers, have made their voices heard
and have faithfully worked to protect marriage and the family in Canada.
Literally millions of emails and thousands of phone calls, faxes, and
visits have been made in support of marriage. 'We are resolved in our
commitment to God's plan and design for marriage and will continue to
work hard to support and encourage everyone to seek God's best,'
said Rolston. 'The benefits of traditional marriage will continue to
set it apart from any alternative and that is why we will continue to
work to protect it'." 18
 | On 2005-AUG-08, the Ipsos North America
polling organization, reported the results of a survey of public
opinion in Alberta. They found that a slight majority (56%) of Albertan
adults are opposed to same-sex marriage. 22 This is a
reduction from 57% over a two year period, when compared to the results of a
poll announced on 2003-JUL-17. Alberta and Prince
Edward Island have
historically been the provinces whose adults were most opposed to marriage
equality. 23 |

Dormant web sites:
Some anti-SSM web sites appear inactive and have
not commented on the new law as of 2005-JUL-30:
 | David Mainse of Marriage Canada, an agency "defending the traditional definition of the word 'Marriage'," has
not updated his website since about JUL-04, two weeks before after C-38 became law.
19 |
 |
Sanctity of Marriage has a web site promoting the restriction of
marriage to opposite-sex couples. Their slogan is: "The issue of marriage
is black and white!" However, it does not seem to have been updated
since 2003-SEP. It does not appear to have any comment on C-38 becoming law.
20 |
 |
Defend
Marriage, Canada
is sponsored by Canadian Citizens to Defend Marriage (CCDM)
which in turn is sponsored by United Families International/Canada.
They attempted to obtain signatures on an anti-SSM petition. Their website
does not seem to have been updated since 2005-MAY-04. 21 |

Related essays on this web site:

References used:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
- "P.E.I. at a loss for words over same-sex marriage," CBC News,
2005-JUL-22, at:
http://www.cbc.ca/
-
Ben Thompson, "Most Canadians Support
Gay Marriage," 365Gay.com, 2005-JUL-18, at:
http://www.365gay.com/
- "Vatican Newspaper Decries Canadian Gay 'Marriage' as 'Distortion of
God's Plan for the Family'," LifeSiteNews, 2005-JUL-21, at:
http://www.lifesite.net/
- Rob Gillies, "Canada 4th Nation to Legalize Gay Marriage," Associated
Press, 2005-JUL-20, at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
-
"Gay couples urged to be careful
travelling abroad," CTV.ca, at:
http://www.ctv.ca/
- "Debates of the Senate (Hansard)," Volume 142, Issue 84, 2005-JUL-19,
at:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/
- Christopher Guly, "Gay Catholics' Kids Might Not Be Baptized in Canada.
Archbishop of Quebec testifies as the church continues to fight a same-sex
marriage bill," Los Angeles Times, 2005-JUL-16, at:
http://www.latimes.com/
- "Catholic Bishops on Gay 'Marriage' Law - 'Catholics are to Continue to
Oppose It'," LifeSiteNews, 2005-JUL-20, at:
http://www.lifesite.net/
-
"Edmonton men first gay couple in Alberta to get marriage
license," CBC News, 2005-JUL-21, at:
http://www.cbc.ca/
-
"Marriage bill railroaded through Senate," Canadian Family
Action Coalition, 2005-JUL-19, at:
http://www.familyaction.org/ **
- Douglas Farrow, "Why and How Canadians Should Refuse to Recognize C-38,"
2005-JUN-26, at:
http://www.enshrinemarriage.ca/ **
- "Canada Gay 'Marriage' Bill to be Signed Into Law Today,"
LifeSiteNews, 2005-JUL-20, at:
http://www.lifesite.net/
- "Women's rights not at the expense of human rights," Real Women of
Canada, 2005-JUL-20, at:
http://www.realwomenca.com/
-
"Spanish pro-family leader decries government policies,"
Catholic World News, 2005-JUN-20, at:
http://www.cwnews.com/
- "United Families Canada Will Continue the Fight to
Protect Marriage Despite Passage of C-38," United Families Canada,
2005-JUN-29, at:
http://press.arrivenet.com/
- "Canadian Evangelical Christians React to Homosexual 'Marriage' Law - We
'Cannot Accept'," LifeSiteNews, 2005-JUL-20, at:
http://www.lifesite.net/
- quebec1, "Courts and SSM," CNews Forums, 2005-JUL-21, at:
http://www.canoe.ca/
- "Marriage redefined in Canadian law," Focus on the Family Canada,
2005-JUL-27, at:
http://www.fotf.ca/
- David Mainse, "Urgent! Act Now! There's only 2 weeks to appeal to Her
Majesty the Queen," about 2005-JUL-04, at:
http://www.marriagecanada.ca/.
- Sanctity of Marriage has a web site at
http://sanctityofmarriage.ca
- Defend Marriage, Canada has a web site at:
http://www.defendmarriagecanada.org/
- "Albertans Continue To Oppose Same Sex Marriage," Ipsos News Center,
2005-AUG-08, at:
http://www.ipsos-na.com/
- "Albertans Oppose Same Sex Marriage," Ipsos News Center,
2003-JUL-17, at:
http://www.ipsos-na.com/
** These
are PDF files. You may require software to read them. Software can be obtained free from:


Site navigation:

Copyright © 2005 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2005-AUG-08
Author: B.A. Robinson

| |
|