Re-open same-sex marriage debate

Faith Coalition for Natural Marriage sound children's rights alarm

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Youth and children were part of the audience listening at a press conference where the effect of same-sex marriage on children was the focus of discussion.

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

The federal government should reopen the debate on same-sex marriage for the sake of Canada's children, Father Paul Moret and a coalition of religious groups urged Sept. 28.

Speaking on behalf of the Edmonton Archdiocese, Moret asked the federal government to reopen the same-sex issue so that the change made by the previous Liberal government can be looked at more carefully.

A child's welfare

"I do not think that the welfare of children was adequately considered when the government enacted the changes to the traditional definition of marriage," the priest said.

Moret, who is in charge of religious vocations for the Edmonton Archdiocese, was one of several speakers at a news conference put on by the Edmonton Faith Coalition for Natural Marriage.

He said the time has come for the government to act, especially in light of a recent decision by the government of France to not legalize same-sex marriage because it would violate the rights of children.

"Canada is one of the countries that signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a document that states that a child has the right to be cared for by his or her parents and that actions taken by courts of law or legislative bodies concerning children are to hold the interests of the child as the primary consideration," Moret said.

Fr. Paul Moret

"When it comes to same-sex marriage, it seems that the wants of adults have overweighed the rights of the children."

The priest said it is essential that the government consider the rights of children "because they are the most vulnerable in our society and the ones least able to defend their own rights. It is the responsibility of those in power to protect those who are least able to protect themselves."

Terrance Chan, pastor of Edmonton Chinese Pastoral Fellowship, read a statement from the coalition calling upon Canada's elected leaders "to promote the best interests of children in society as a whole by reopening the debate on marriage in this country."

"Nations such as France and Australia have seriously and compassionately reviewed the issue and have chosen not to redefine marriage to include same sex couples," Chan noted.

Rushed, misguided

Calling the legislation that approved gay marriage in Canada a " rushed and misguided effort," Chan said it is the duty of Canada's elected officials and policy makers to become fully informed and consider seriously the wisdom of other modern democratic states.

"Now is the time to put a halt to and reverse the dangerous and unsubstantiated social reengineering that is taking place before it results in irreparable damage to our society," he said.

Michael Cooper, a 22-year-old law student at the University of Alberta, said Canada must say "no" to gay marriage for the sake of children. "Make no mistake about it: contrary to the audacious claims of some, this radical social experiment doesn't come without costs and the biggest burden of those costs fall on our society's most precious resource - our children," he said.

Alberta Conservative leadership contender Ted Morton, a constitutional expert, agreed the federal government should consider the needs of children in any same-sex marriage debate. He said the Tories should strike up a parliamentary committee to study the impact that same-sex marriage has on children.

A social experiment

"The evidence is absolutely overwhelming that same-sex marriage is not a basic human right, but rather it's a social experiment," he said.

Lisa Eriksson who was present at the press conference said, "(Gay) couples have the freedom to do as they wish, but to define (their unions) as marriage undercuts the fabric of our society."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has already signalled it plans to reopen the debate at the end of the current session of Parliament.

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