Marriage rally planned for Sept. 7 [Canadian FReepers Alert! Rallys Across Canada 3pm Sunday]

MEMBERS OF at least seven churches in Terrace are gathering this Sunday in front of Skeena MP Andy Burton’s office as part of a nation-wide campaign called the “Sanctity of Marriage Week” which is focussed on the issue of same sex marriages.

“The whole point is to make a positive statement that marriage is between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others,” said Pastor Jim Barber of the Terrace Pentecostal Assembly today. It’s one of the largest Protestant denominations in the city.

“We don’t want anti-homosexual statements made. This is a positive thing. We don’t want to be calling anyone down. It is about our displeasure with the changes that are being proposed.”

Those changes include proposed federal legislation to formalize same sex marriages.

They are now permitted in several provinces, including B.C. thanks to recent court decisions. The federal Liberal government has sent its proposed legislation to the supreme court for examination prior to having it brought to Parliament for debate and voting.

The sanctity campaign is aiming for an average rally attendance of 3,000 people at the 301 Member of Parliament offices across the country, making for a potential million strong showing.

Barber and other ministers were made aware of the campaign just this week, meaning that they are organizing on the fly.

In addition to Barber’s church, the Evangelical Free Church, the Sacred Heart Parish Catholic church, the Salvation Army, Zion Baptist Church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Terrace Alliance Church are taking part.

“And there’ll be other churches,” Barber added. There’ll be prayers and short speeches by speakers. Burton is out of the country on a European Parliamentary tour but efforts are underway to have a representative attend from his office.

Burton’s office is at the Terrace and District Credit Union office complex on Lazelle Ave. and the rally begins at 3 p.m.

EDMONTON, AB

http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13978

At the prayer Rally in Edmonton, just over 400 people showed up at Ann McLelland's office. A hand ful of pro same sex marriage were there in opposition.

I was asked to lead a prayer and a short statement on behalf of the layity.

The following was what I read. I had to stop every now and then for applause from those gathered:

THE LAY FAITHFUL ARE NEVER TO RELINQUISH THEIR PARTICIPATION IN ‘PUBLIC LIFE’,

THAT IS, IN THE MANY DIFFERENT ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND CULTURAL AREAS, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO PROMOTE INSTITUTIONALLY THE COMMON GOOD"

GUIDED BY OUR FAITH AND CONSCIENCE,

THE LAY FAITHFUL EXERCISE THEIR PROPER TASK OF INFUSING THE STATES ORDER BY ITS ACTION HERE TODAY

WITH VALUES GUIDED BY FAITH,

ALL THE WHILE RESPECTING THE NATURE AND RIGHTFUL INDEPENDANCE OF THAT ORDER,

AND COOPERATING WITH OTHER CITIZENS.

ONE CANNOT CLOSE ONE’S EYES TO THE REAL DANGERS WHICH CERTAIN TENDENCIES IN SOCIETY ARE PROMOTING THROUGH LEGISLATION,AND JUDICAL ACTS,

NOR CAN ONE IGNORE THE EFFECTS THIS WILL HAVE ON FUTURE GENERATIONS

AS MARTIN LUTHER STATED “THE CHURCH MUST BE REMINDED THAT IT IS NEITHER MASTER NOR SERVANT OF THE STATE, BUT RATHER THE CONSCIENCE OF THE STATE”

IN EXERCISING OUR RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND BELIEF WE PRAY

FOR THE VOTE

MAY EACH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, WHOM WE HAVE ELECTED, BE MINDFUL OF THE FAITHFULS OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF THEIR CONSCIENCE WHEN THEY GO TO EXECRCISE THEIR CONSCIENCE IN A VOTE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. MAY THE VOTE BE GUIDED TO ENSURE THAT MARRIAGE IS DEFINED AS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMEN TO THE EXCLUSION OF ALL OTHERS.

FOR OUR MP

MAY OUR MP SEE THAT THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE IS A CENTRAL AND IMPORTANT INSTITUTION IN THE LIVES OF MANY CANADIANS. IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN ALL SOCIETIES WORLDWIDE, SECOND ONLY TO THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY TO ALL OF US.

MAY THEY BE GRANTED THE WISDOM AND THE STRENGTH TO NOT CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE, OR OF LEGISLATE SAME-SEX MARRIAGES. MAY THEY UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE EQUALITY ISSUES AROUND SAME-SEX PARTNERS WHICH NOW FACE US AS CANADIANS.

PROTECTION OF MARRIAGE

MAY PARLIAMENT BE GRANTED THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO CARRY OUT PARLIAMENT’S SOVEREIGN ROLE WHEN ACTING ON THE WISHES OF THE MAJORITY OF ITS FAITHFUL PEOPLE.

THE NATION OF CANADA

MAY THIS TIME OF TURMOIL BRING OUR DIVERSE SOCIETY TOGETHER . THIS ATTACK ON OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM MAY IT BECOME A TIME TO HEAL OUR LAND AND BE A TIME TO BRING TOGETHER YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN FAITH.

CANADA’S CHURCHES

MAY OUR CHUCHES BE PROTECTED FROM THE MORAL CULTURAL RELATIVISM THAT EXISTS TODAY, EVIDENT IN THE FALSE CONSENSUS, WHICH SANCTIONS THE DECADENCE AND DISINTEGRATION OF THE FAMILY AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE NATURAL MORAL LAW.
MAY IT BE SEEN THAT ANY MOVE TO REDEFINE MARRIAGE IS AN ATTACK ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, EXPRESSION AND BELIEF.

HEBREWS 13:2 MARRIAGE SHOULD BE HONOURED BY ALL

ALL ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY
WE COME TOGETHER TO PRAY,
MUSLIMS SEIKS, JEW’S, EVANGELICALS, BAPTIST, PRESBYTERIANS, LUTHERANS, PENTECOSTAL, GREEK ORTHODOX, UKRANIAN CATHOLIC, ANGLICAN AND ROMAN CATHOLIC THESE ARE ALSO THE PEOPLE OF OUR PLURALIST SOCIETY MAY OUR PRAYERS BE HEARD

AND MAY OUR ACTIONS TODAY BE EVER IN THE MINDS OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERS HERE ON EARTH.

Please note the sention under Prayer for the MP are Anne McLelland's own words from 1999, with a slight paraphrasing to turn it in to a prayer. I woul like to thank Vic Toews for bring this to my attention;for he stated in his speach at the Manitoba Legislature:

In fact, the-then Justice Minister Anne McLellan, speaking for the Liberal government, assured Canadians of the government’s intentions when she stated:
We on this side agree that the institution of marriage is a central and important institution in the lives of many Canadians. It plays an important part in all societies worldwide, second only to the fundamental importance of family to all of us.

She went on to assure Canadians:
Let me state again for the record that the government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage or of legislating same-sex marriages.
I fundamentally do not believe that it is necessary to change the definition of marriage in order to accommodate the equality issues around same-sex partners which now face us as Canadians.

Are we going to see a flip flop from Ann?

Monday, September 8, 2003

Calgarians join anti-gay marriage rallies

People pray against change

By MELISSA RIDGEN, CALGARY SUN

http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=126174#126174

Hundreds of Calgarians joined a national protest against gay marriage yesterday, including more than 300 who prayed outside Canadian Alliance MP Jason Kenney's constituency office yesterday.

Pastor Willy Reimer of the Sunwest Christian Fellowship said marriage predates Canada, its political leaders and the courts and therefore shouldn't be redefined to include same-sex couples.

"It's an assault on common sense and the values of society," he said.

'ASSAULT ON SENSE'

Rallier Howard Maines, 74, feels the majority of Canadians don't agree with same-sex marriages and should speak out.

"If God wanted gays to marry it would be in the Bible and it's not," Maines said. "How can you support something that's not God's will when marriage is a religious institution?"

Kenney believes marriage should be limited to heterosexual couples, but is also fighting against marriage redefinition because he feels it's not an issue for the courts to decide, as was the case in Ontario.

"This is a democracy and we're going to take it back," the Calgary Southeast MP said. "We aren't going to let the courts impose their morality on our society."

It's the responsibility of elected leaders to do what the majority of their constituents want, he said.

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/archives/story.asp?id=626F633A-459D-427E-B912-949E860F66BB

Same-sex battle lines drawn
Churches push marriage showdown

Mario Toneguzzi
Calgary Herald

Sunday, August 31, 2003
http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/archives/story.asp?id=626F633A-459D-427E-B912-949E860F66BB

Gay activists and a coalition of religious groups in Calgary and across the country are stepping up their lobbying campaign against federal politicians as the same-sex marriage issue moves toward a legal showdown.

A coalition of religious groups says it will hold a news conference Tuesday to name about 30 southern Ontario MPs they will target for supporting gay marriage.

They're also planning to hold rallies and pray in as many as possible of Canada's 301 federal ridings next Sunday.

Jim Wallace, senior pastor at the South Calgary Community Church in Cedarbrae, said the church has encouraged its congregation to participate in the Sept. 7 event.

"I would say (this issue) has certainly struck a deep chord in Canadian society because of the importance of traditional marriage to many, many people," he said.

Wallace said the church has not made any public statements on the issue, but it does support traditional marriages.

Senior Pastor Phil Nordin, of Calgary Jubilee Christian Centre, described the strategy of the religious coalition as "quite aggressive."

Nordin's congregation will participate, he said, in the Sept. 7 activities.

"This is gaining momentum with different groups behind it," he said.

"It is a grassroots movement."

Meanwhile, gay activists have embarked on an e-mail and letter-writing campaign targeting many MPs who have been lukewarm in their support for same-sex marriage.

The strategic move comes after recent news the Canadian Alliance party will force a vote on the issue as soon as Parliament returns next month.

Under the federal government's plan to refer draft legislation to the Supreme Court of Canada prior to its introduction in Parliament, MPs are not likely to vote on any proposed law until late 2004.

However, the Alliance motion could put the government's plan in jeopardy.

It is expected to be based on a 1999 motion that passed 216-55 with broad support from Liberals, including Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

The June 8, 1999, motion stated that "marriage is and should remain the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, and that Parliament will take all necessary steps within the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada to preserve this definition of marriage in Canada."

The Alliance says it is working on the exact wording of the proposal.

The Supreme Court has tentatively set aside next April 16 to hear arguments on whether gays and lesbians can legally marry, potentially putting the divisive issue fresh on the minds of voters if a federal election is called next spring.

On Friday, the Alberta government served formal notice it will intervene in the Supreme Court's review of proposed same-sex marriage legislation.

Alberta is expected to be the only province to oppose the legislation.

"This is fairly important. One of our concerns is that those against equal marriage appear to be primarily from conservative churches who have good access to their membership and they've rallied their side effectively," said Stephen Lock, Calgary representative for EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere) Canada.

"But we believe MPs are not getting an accurate read of this," Lock said.

The gay community has embarked on an e-mail and letter-writing campaign to MPs, said Lock. It is also forming alliances with a variety of other pro-same-sex marriage groups.

Two Calgary couples were recently rejected at a provincial registries office when they tried to apply for a marriage licence. Both couples have filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

Keith Purdy and his partner, Rick Kennedy, the first to file complaints, said Thursday the provincial government has asked for an extension until Sept. 30 to respond to the complaint.

mtoneguzzi@theherald.canwest.com

© Copyright 2003 Calgary Herald

BACK TO EDMONTON, ALBERTA

http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=126184#126184

Prayers protest marriages of gay, lesbian couples
250 Edmontonians gathered as part of national event that aimed to attract 100,000

Mairi MacLean
The Edmonton Journal

Monday, September 08, 2003

http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/story.asp?id=34729C94-AA0A-431B-BBA4-7B10BD907232

EDMONTON - Opponents of homosexual marriage, including 250 in Edmonton, gathered in silent prayer across the country Sunday to protest a proposed law legalizing same-sex unions.

Most of the rallies took place in front of the constituency offices of federal MPs. A coalition of religious groups had hoped to attract 100,000 people across Canada.

Opponents want to convince politicians -- especially those who were in close races -- that they risk defeat in the next election, expected next spring, if they support the legislation.

When groups on opposite sides of the same-sex marriage issue started demonstrating in front of federal Health Minister Anne McLellan's office on Sunday afternoon, one of them decided to move to avoid a confrontation.

Those opposed to same-sex marriage moved a block away from McLellan's constituency office to hold a prayer rally, after seeing about 50 people who support gay marriage standing in front of McLellan's door, many waving small signs.

"Can't we at least pray together? It's sad they moved," said Suzanne Cowles, a retired Lutheran pastor, who had joined members of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, the United, Unitarian and Lutheran churches and others on the office steps.

The exodus was led in part by Spruce Grove Catholic school teacher Jim Zdril, who organized the rally in McLellan's riding for the Canada Family Action Coalition, a group dedicated to seeing Judeo-Christian moral principles restored in Canada. He said the emphasis was on prayer, not demonstration or confrontation.

"We decided with all the work that went into the prayer rally, we didn't want any kind of trouble," said Zdril.

Garry Rohr, a pastor at Southside Pentecostal Assembly, said a "lot of churches are afraid to voice their opinion openly in the public square -- there can be repercussions, tax-wise.

"In effect, this is a pro-family lobby group in contact with pastors who understand key issues as they relate to the church."

Zdril said the group is "very interested" in Bill C-250, which he calls "frightening." Proposed by NDP MP Svend Robinson, the bill would expand the definition of "identifiable group" in the Criminal Code's hate propaganda law to include anyone targeted due to his or her sexual orientation.

"It would make any discussion on the homosexual agenda into the realm of hate-mongering," said Rohr, "We believe Bill C-250 and the marriage re-definition are each sides of the same coin. They stifle legitimate discussion."

He also said the Edmonton Faith Coalition for Natural Marriage has been working with Sikh and Muslim representatives to talk to MPs about the issue

mmaclean@thejournal.canwest.com

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