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Ottawa, 29th June 2005 (CNA)
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The passage of Canada’s
same-sex marriage bill in the House of Commons
yesterday is an indication “that Canadians are
witnessing a dangerous deterioration of their
communal values,” said the president of the
Canadian bishops’ conference.
In a
statement released last night, Archbishop Brendan
O’Brien said with the passage of the bill
“Canadians take another unfortunate step toward
eliminating civil and social recognition and
appreciation for the unique importance of the
committed relationship of a man and a woman in
marriage.”
The passage of the bill, he said, puts the
future of marriage and the irreplaceable role of a
husband and wife in conceiving and raising
children at risk.
Bill C-38 was passed by a
vote of 158-133 Tuesday evening. The Liberals, the
NDP and the Bloc Québécois largely supported the
bill, leaving only the Conservatives and some
Liberal backbenchers voting against it.
Archbishop O’Brien commented on the
“political manoeuvering” that took place in order
to ram the legislation through quickly. He said it
was “particularly troubling to note the continued
refusal by certain political parties and their
leaders to recognize and respect freedom of
conscience and religion.”
Bill C-38 was
put to a free vote. However, this did not apply to
Prime Minister Paul Martin’s cabinet ministers,
who were required to vote in favor of the bill.
Unable to vote for the bill, Minister of State Joe
Comuzzi resigned from cabinet earlier
yesterday.
NDP Leader Jack Layton also
instructed all members of his party to vote
according to the party line.
“Members of
Parliament were forced to follow a political
deadline and to vote along party lines on an issue
which deeply divides and troubles Canadians,” said
Archbishop O’Brien. The archbishop called this
political hardball “an ominous sign” of what can
be expected in future debates on the application
of bill C-38 with regard to human rights
legislation, the solemnization of marriage, and
school policies on moral and social
questions.
He also said the amendments to
bill C-38 are not enough to “diminish significant
concerns about protecting freedom of conscience
and religion.”
While the House passed the
bill, it is not yet law. It will now move to the
Senate. The Canadian Conference of Catholic
Bishops is urging the Senate to give the proposed
legislation “prudent consideration” and to order
public hearings on the matter. |
