Canada Senate approves gay marriage bill

Associated Press ^ | July 20, 2005 | Rob Gillies

[AntiGuv]

TORONTO (AP) — Canada's Senate late Tuesday voted to adopt landmark legislation to legalize gay marriage nationwide despite fierce opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders. The bill could be signed into law as early as Wednesday.

The bill grants same-sex couples legal rights equal to those in traditional unions between a man and a woman, something already legal in a majority of Canadian provinces.

The legislation drafted by Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority Liberal Party government easily passed the Senate, which essentially rubber stamps any bill already passed by the House of Commons, which passed it late last month.

The bill becomes law when it is signed by Canada's Governor-General. Once that happens, Canada will become only the fourth country in the world to legalize gay marriage nationwide, after the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.

The 47-21 Senate vote came after years of court battles and debate that divided families, religious groups and even political allies.

Martin, a Roman Catholic, has said that despite anyone's personal beliefs, all Canadians should be granted the same rights to marriage.

Churches have expressed concern that their clergy would be compelled to perform same sex ceremonies. The legislation, however, states that the bill only covers civil unions, not religious ones, and no clergy would be forced to perform same-sex ceremonies unless they choose to do so.

The Roman Catholic Church, the predominant Christian denomination in Canada, has vigorously opposed the legislation, saying that it would harm children in particular.

In the United States, Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay marriages; Vermont and Connecticut have approved same-sex civil unions.

Though hundreds of foreigners have come to Canada to seek civil ceremonies since gay marriages were first allowed in Ontario and British Columbia in 2003, not all countries or states recognize the unions.

The U.S. government does not recognize same-sex marriage, and most states refuse to acknowledge marriage certificates from gay and lesbian couples, regardless of where they wed.

[tophat9000]

Man Nook-ee of the North

[Kozak]

the Senate, which essentially rubber stamps any bill already passed by the House of Commons,

Why bother having a Senate in that case? Save the money and buy a rubber stamp, it's cheaper.

[Darkwolf377]

Fabulous.

[Paleo Conservative]

Don't confuse the Canadian Senate with the US Senate. The US Senate is elected by the voters in each US state. The Canadian Senate is appointed by the prime minister. Imagine if the US Senate were appointed by Bill Clinton. That's what the Canadians have.

[Windsong]

"Martin, a Roman Catholic, has said that despite anyone's personal beliefs, all Canadians should be granted the same rights to marriage."

So in addition to pedophiles in the Catholic denomination being a problem, now there are supporters of gay marriage who simultaneously claim to be supported by Scripture (but then again, they also equate Mary as Queen of Heaven, so..)

[claudiustg]

Will he be excommunicated?

[Sam Gamgee]

Two of his cabinet ministers have been told they are not welcome in their local Catholic church. I don't know why Martin hasn't also been shown the door. Maybe he's one of those one day a year church attendees? Sort of like Bubba when he became religious after the the Monica affair?

[BigFinn]

Good grief, the Canadian government is sliding their good country into the abyss.

[JNL]

Oh wow, hate Catholics do we....nice comment. I'm a Catholic or Christian if you prefer and I don't believe in any of the things you just vomited out.

Have a nice day

[America's Resolve]

Well, to be fair, after the memo that was circulated the other day threatening their perks and porks, none of the august senators dared vote no.

Sheesh. What a revoltin' development!

What a way to run a country.

[stocksthatgoup]

"Canadian Citizens grab your ankles."

[Heartofsong83]

We need all your help to take it back!!! We can do it!!!

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping.

Doesn't Canada have a lower house that has to approve this as well?

Yup, circling the porcelain bowl. Note the many foreigners coming to Canada to tie the knot. Imagine how easy it would be for some Muslim terrorists to pretend to be "gay" so they could come in tandem - actually a bill allowing "gay spouses" into the US was proposed recently. Keep your eyes open for it.

Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.

[Heartofsong83]

They already did, 158-133, in a heated battle.

[little jeremiah]

Thanks - I knew someone would post the info. I have been averting my eyes about Canada and "gay" marriage; I knew I couldn't avoid pinging it forever.

Just how bad is it going to get, that's what I ask myself.

[NYer]

The Roman Catholic Church, the predominant Christian denomination in Canada, has vigorously opposed the legislation, saying that it would harm children in particular.

Homosexual "Marriage"

True marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Legal recognition of any other union as "marriage" undermines true marriage, and legal recognition of homosexual unions actually does homosexual persons a disfavor by encouraging them to persist in what is an objectively immoral arrangement.

"When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic lawmaker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral" (UHP 10).
UHP Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Considerations regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[porkchopexpress]

Nice, loving, Christian attitude you hold towards your fellow Catholic Christians. I'll remind you that Catholics WERE the FIRST Christians, windsong. I don't remember ever reading about Fundamentalist Baptists, or any other Christian denomination (other than Catholics) being eaten by lions during the Roman persecution -- without their strength and courage there would not be a Christian religion for you to spout your ignorance and bigotry in the name of.

[madprof98]

Martin, a Roman Catholic, has said that despite anyone's personal beliefs, all Canadians should be granted the same rights to marriage.

As a Catholic, I find it dismaying that the most rabidly anti-life, anti-decency, anti-God politicians out there today are not professed atheists but self-described "practicing Catholics" (some of them, like Nancy Pelosi, self-described "conservative Catholics"). The problem is not that they describe themselves this way; it's that the Church actually encourages the public to view them this way. Just watch what happens when the next Kennedy bites the dust. We'll have cardinals lined up to funeralize him.