Canada Churches Oppose, Support Gay Marriage Bill

The government plan to legalize gay marriage is revealing more clearly the growing theological gap between the ultra liberal and traditional churches in Canada.

The United Church of Canada, known for its liberal stance on homosexuality, supported the government bill that would amend the nation’s marriage law to refer to a union of “two persons” rather than of “a man and a woman.”

In a letter to all members of the parliament, the UCC’s moderator, Rev. Peter Short, said, “The General Council of the United Church of Canada believes that equal marriage is a step on the path to justice, peace, and the common good.”

The UCC, the largest protestant denomination in Canada and one of the most highly criticized by evangelicals, has long since accepted active homosexuals as clergy and blessed same-sex “unions” within its pews.

However, Christians on the more traditional rung of the theological spectrum encouraged the parliament to protect marriage for the sake of family and society.

Same sex marriage could “bring in its wake bitter and unpredictable demographic, social, cultural and religious consequences,” said Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the highest ranking Roman Catholic clergyman in Canada.

Ouellet added that the institution of marriage was for “the procreation and education of children, within the context of the love of a man and a woman,” and he said it provided a guarantee “for the future of society.”

“It is parliament that must decide about this matter of such great importance for the future of our society and of its fundamental values,” he said.

The Canadian Supreme Court last month gave the government the green light to legalize gay marriage across Canada, but stopped short of saying that this was required by the constitution. Currently, gay marriage is “legal” in seven Canadian provinces and one territory. Parliament members will vote on the bill after they return from Christmas break, January 31.