One of Our Worst Fears About The Same-Sex Marriage Bill Realized

June 15, 2005

They said we were fear-mongering. After this week, the Prime Minister and his Liberal government can’t credibly level that accusation against the Conservative Party of Canada and Canadians concerned that religious freedoms are at risk under Bill C-38, the Liberal legislation to legalize same-sex marriage.

Paul Martin and his advisors must have been cursing the timing of an announcement by a leading gay rights’ activist that he’ll seek to have the charitable status of Canadian churches refusing to perform same-sex weddings revoked.

Religious organizations rely heavily upon their charitable tax status to stay afloat financially. It encourages donations by their membership, businesses and other groups who can write off those donations against their income tax payable.

It’s not just a matter of keeping the lights on. Canadian religious groups contribute generously to our society, offering programs for the elderly, children, homeless people, and others affected by alcoholism, drugs, physical abuse, poverty and war.

Just as Mr. Martin is trying to rush his same-sex marriage bill through the House of Commons before summer by promising nervous backbench Liberal MPs the legislation will adequately protect religious groups, one of his biggest allies on the issue, Kevin Bourassa, spoke out.

Mr. Bourassa equated charitable status for churches that won’t perform same-sex weddings to “the Canadian government funding that bigotry”.

The same government that is now assuring us C-38 will protect religious freedoms also told us Bill C-250, the legislation that incorporated sexual orientation into hate crimes laws, would protect religious leaders from prosecution.

Yet, a Roman Catholic bishop in Alberta is now facing a human rights complaint for teaching his faith and another has been filed against a B.C. church for refusing a lesbian couple the use of their hall for their wedding reception.

Given the Prime Minister’s incorrect assertion that the Supreme Court indicated the traditional definition of marriage violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms – something the Court did not do – Mr. Bourassa and his supporters won’t find it difficult to eventually convince the misguided Mr. Martin to revoke the charitable status of thousands of Canadian religious organizations.

Regardless, you can expect that in the very near future a court challenge will be launched to strip religious groups of that status. Bill C-38 does nothing to prevent that.

Conservative Justice Critic Vic Toews is vigourously battling the bill every step of its way through Parliament. He has also proposed amendments to strengthen the bill’s protection of religion should the Liberals succeed in getting it passed.

As I write this, I am in the midst of intense negotiations, as Official Opposition House Leader, with the government’s House Leader, Tony Valeri, to either incorporate these amendments or leave Bill C-38 unpassed before the summer recess.

I can’t help but wonder if the Liberals would even be discussing the matter had it not been for Mr. Bourassa’s untimely comments. Liberal backbenchers are rightfully spooked. Those of us vigilantly guarding the traditional definition of marriage have known for a very long time that Bill C-38 gives us a great deal more to fear.

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