Whenever I deleve into discussing political issues, I have a friend who very gently reminds me that our countries, both the US and Canada have clear separation of Church and State. Hummm perhaps, if its convient for the goverment of the day.
It would seem that the issue of Gay and Lesbian marriage is about to test this theory. As most of you know, it is currently legal in Ontario Canada for a Gay or Lesbian couple to marry. They can and are obtaining marriage licences in droves. American Gay and Lesbians are also coming here to be legally married, at least in Canada they are.
Jean Crietian has listened to his advisors and ageed that it is constitutional, and the Federal government will not take steps to block these valid marriages. However, some provinces are saying that they don't care what the Feds say, they will not permit Gay and Lesbian marriages.
The dust just started to settle in Canada, and wham! President Bush started speaking out. Saying that a marriage is between a man and a woman period. Tsk tsk, narrow minded thinking. Sadly he is not alone in his thinking. This is the same view as many of the worlds most powerful religions.
The Vatican has also spoken out against these marriages, saying that gay and lesbian people are “evil,” “deviant,” “immoral,” “intrinsically disordered” and “depraved”. WOW I am still trying to figure out how anyone including the Pope can say this about a large group of people sight unseen. Are we being just a bit judgemental? I know a few people who are gay, and a very very dear friend of mine from childhood is a lesbian, and not one of them are any of the above adjectives. Gentle, caring, loving, peaceful, law abiding, loyal, and the list can go on forever would describe them.
Firstly, any God that I was taught to love, is all merciful, all caring, and all loving. She/he would never condem a group of people based solely on a sexual preference. It is interesting that the Pope would issue such a harsh statement about gay and lesbian people, while continuing to shelter priests who have molested children under their care. Hypocricy at its finest.
What galls me ever more though is how the Vatican has come out and called on governments to denouce gay and lesbian marriage -- arguing that a government leader must adhere to his/her faith and vote according to what the church expects. So far Jean Crietian, who is a staunch Catholic, has not allowed his personal faith to interfere with what he sees the law of the land as being. Lets hope that other MP's and government leaders follow suit and truly keep the Church and State separate!