Canadian Cardinal's Letter On Same-Sex Marriage

[Dave]

The Cardinal’s letter appeared in today’s Globe & Mail, one of Canada’s biggest daily newspapers. Thank you for taking a stand Cardinal!

Toronto Cardinal Ambrozic Warns Gay ‘Marriage’ Will Expose Children to Gay Sex-Ed
Urges Court-Proof Law to Uphold Traditional Marriage

TORONTO, January 19, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin released yesterday, Toronto Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic has asked that a bill be enacted to protect the traditional definition of marriage. Moreover, knowing that provincial courts have forced the redefining of marriage, the Cardinal asks that the bill include use of the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to allow for it to take effect.

“I urge you, Prime Minister, to table a Bill that legislatively enacts the traditional opposite-sex definition of marriage, coupled with a clause that provides for the legislation to take effect notwithstanding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” wrote the Cardinal.

The request for the legislation is couched in a demand for a time of reflection prior to altering the definition of marriage. “My purpose in writing this open letter to you is to urge caution in taking this step towards the re-definition of marriage. We all would do well to pause reflectively before we alter social structures like marriage and the family that lie at the core of our society, and that represent the accumulated wisdom and experience of the ages,” he writes.

One of the dangerous consequences of the redefinition of marriage which the Cardinal draws attention to is the equating of heterosexual sex with homosexual sex. “The law is a teacher. Does Canadian society as a whole, and do parents in particular, understand what the law will be teaching in this instance? It will be teaching that homosexual activity and heterosexual activity are morally equivalent.” The Cardinal Archbishop of Toronto added, “Public schools will be required to provide sex education in that light.”

In his letter the Cardinal acknowledges the use of the notwithstanding clause may be controversial. However he notes, “Its use in the context of same-sex marriage would be most appropriate.” In conclusion the Cardinal urges that “all parliamentarians, Cabinet Ministers included” be permitted to “to vote their consciences on any legislation that is put to a vote in Parliament on the issue of marriage.”

See the full letter from the Cardinal here:
lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jan/050119a.html

And of course, the inevitble backlash:

theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050119.wsamesex0119/BNStory/Front/

 

[HagiaSophia]

Dave:

The Cardinal’s letter appeared in today’s Globe & Mail, one of Canada’s biggest daily newspapers. Thank you for taking a stand Cardinal!

See: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=33927

 

[Dave]

HagiaSophia:

See: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=33927

Thanks for the link, but this is another Canadian bishop speaking out.

For Canadian Catholics, Cardinal Ambrozic is pretty much our highest ranking Catholic leader, so this is a pretty big deal. (not taking anything away from Calgary’s bishop Henry…)

 

[HagiaSophia]

Dave:

Thanks for the link, but this is another Canadian bishop speaking out.

For Canadian Catholics, Cardinal Ambrozic is pretty much our highest ranking Catholic leader, so this is a pretty big deal. (not taking anything away from Calgary’s bishop Henry…)

Why don’t you post a cross link to here in the other thread? I don’t know what vitamin the bishops in Canada are taking but I’d like to buy some for the NCCB.

 

[Dave]

HagiaSophia:

I don’t know what vitamin the bishops in Canada are taking but I’d like to buy some for the NCCB.

I hate to criticize, but this is long overdue in Canada. We are within a couple of months of the government passing legislation to legalize gay marriage - it’s sort of now or never for church leaders to speak out. At least in the US it seems that there is no immediate political threat to go down the same path…

 

[jimmy]

I think that lady on the second link needs to realize that it is not the Church’s job to conform to the beliefs of the lay people or to conform to the society. It is the job of the lay and the society to conform to the Church.

 

[HagiaSophia]

At least in the US it seems that there is no immediate political threat to go down the same path…
[/quote]

It’s a hot button issue here - we had two states California and Maschusetts both begin to perform them - then they were declared invalid in both states I believe and it still simmers on a burner.

 

[st_julie]

A great site to follow the Canadian counter measures is

www.lifesite.net

It gives all the activity on one site
st julie

 

[Gerry_Hunter]

It must be tough to be Paul Martin, erstwhile Catholic and Prime Minister, at the moment. Not only is his own church heirarchy weighing in about same sex “marriage,” the leader of the Sikh religion let go with a blast on the subject while Martin was in India, calling it the product of sick minds and anti-human. Martin had a Canadian Sikh cabinet minister in tow in India, to boot.

The whole thing prompted me to write a few thoughts on the situation in Canada in general, and here in the Vancouver BC area in particular, where an Anglican Bishop blesses these “unions.” Help yourself.

www3.telus.net/gerry_hunter/Letters/The%20Futility%20of%20Denial.htm
Blessings,

Gerry

 

[HagiaSophia]

Gerry Hunter:

It must be tough to be Paul Martin,

Frankly I doubt it - Mr. Martin is such a babbling idiot that I doubt
he recognizes the caricature of an official that he cuts, but the piece was well done - really enjoyed it - is this your blog?

 

[Gerry_Hunter]

HagiaSophia:

Frankly I doubt it - Mr. Martin is such a babbling idiot that I doubt
he recognizes the caricature of an official that he cuts, but the piece was well done - really enjoyed it - is this your blog?

Can’t argue with that. When he ran against his predecessor years ago, he pulled a Cuomo, with an “I’m against abortion personally, but I wouldn’t impose …” line.

And yeah, that’s mine. You can get at everything on it through the link in my user info.

Blessings,

Gerry

PS: You from Canada, too?

 

[HagiaSophia]

“Catholics for a Free Choice-Canada” is dismayed
that the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Toronto, Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic has written an open letter to the Prime Minister, Paul Martin in opposition to human rights for Canadian gays and lesbians. Ambrozic urges that the Canadian government postpone the issue of gay marriage for five
years, so that the matter can be debated openly among Canadians.

"We believe firmly that human rights can be accommodated in a civil society, and that the Catholic Church can and should be a diverse and inclusive community where all are welcomed", said Kathleen Howes, spokesperson for Catholics for a Free Choice-Canada. "In this case, justice delayed is

justice denied".

She noted that Cardinal Ambrozic stated in his letter that freedom of conscience is fundamental to our society. "The Catholic Church doctrine decrees that every person must ultimately act according to his or her

conscience," she said. “But some bishops have threatened excommunication for any politician who endorses gay or lesbian marriage. In fact, in 2003 the Vatican issued an edict advising Catholics, and in particular, Catholic politicians, around the world to oppose same sex marriage.”

For many years, members of Catholics for a Free Choice have insisted on the right of Catholics to follow their consciences on issues such as birth control, abortion, reproductive rights and other sexual issues, notwithstanding the official doctrine of the institutional Church.

"We hope that the Catholic Church will not be selective as to when Catholics are entitled to follow their conscience", said Howes.

newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2005/21/c5679.html

 

[Gerry_Hunter]

HagiaSophia:

For many years, members of Catholics for a Free Choice have insisted on the right of Catholics to follow their consciences on issues such as birth control, abortion, reproductive rights and other sexual issues, notwithstanding the official doctrine of the institutional Church.

"We hope that the Catholic Church will not be selective as to when Catholics are entitled to follow their conscience", said Howes.

The only question left to put to Howes is, “In what sense do you consider yourself to be Catholic?”

Poor soul. Doesn’t seem to realize that the conscience we are to follow is one that is formed in conformity with the teachings of the Church. No wonder she spouts such drivel. :banghead:

Blessings,

Gerry

 

[Dave]

jimmy:

I think that lady on the second link needs to realize that it is not the Church’s job to conform to the beliefs of the lay people or to conform to the society. It is the job of the lay and the society to conform to the Church.

This is the same group that were handing out condoms to World Youth Day pilgrims a couple of years ago in Toronto, and hosting a ‘mass’ done by a female ‘priest’ in an attempt to counter all the positive energies WYD brought to the city.

It drives me nuts that the media gives credibility to any group that attaches ‘Catholic’ to their name whose agenda is so contrary to the true faith.