Catholics still oppose same-sex marriage — bishops

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa

Catholics are to continue to oppose the same-sex marriage law say Canada's bishops, even though controversial Bill C-38 has passed Parliament and received royal assent.

"From the perspective of the Catholic Church, the new federal statute denatures the moral values and principles," the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) said in a July 20 statement.

"The fundamental and universal reality of marriage remains the exclusive union of a man and a woman for life," the bishops said.

"Unfortunately, there are also some Catholics who have promoted the redefinition of marriage, including politicians who have voted in its favour," said the statement.

"In this regard, they are in dissent from the teaching of the Church as enunciated by the holy father and the bishops. This is a serious and problematic matter."

Debate far from over

"Canadians in general have been and remain deeply divided about changing the nature of marriage and altering its basic meaning. It is clear this debate is far from over, and that it will be a significant issue in the upcoming federal election," said the CCCB.

Polls have consistently shown that a majority of Canadians - around 60 per cent - want to maintain the traditional definition of marriage.

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