Bishop Henry's wake-up call to the laity.

Waterloo, ON -- Speaking to a sold-out crowd of 400 on April 21, 2006, Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary challenged his audience to "push back" against public assaults on families and schools. He was the guest at a fundraising dinner of Defend Traditional Marriage and Family, Kitchener-Waterloo.

The Bishop began his address with reference to the Catechism teaching that:

"persons with same-sex attraction must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition (#2358)."

He underscored the need for charity towards those with homosexual tendencies. Indeed, the need for clear teaching on sexual morality is one aspect of such charity.

The bishop recapped with humour the now familiar intervention of Revenue Canada regarding his 2004 pastoral letter against same-sex "marriage." Revenue Canada's Calgary representative sought to limit the bishop's free speech, and inadvertently garnered support for him across the country.

After concluding his prepared remarks, Bishop Henry took questions from the audience. Asked why his brother bishops are not more outspoken in the public square, he acknowledged that he himself must speak out, compelled by his conscience. He does not want to come to the Last Judgment and be asked by the Lord why he sat on his hands when he had the opportunity to make a significant difference.

Criticized by the media for daring to discuss same-sex "marriage" in the wake of the priestly sexual abuse scandals, he has responded that he is quite capable of addressing both issues simultaneously. After all, as a modern man, he "multi-tasks" all the time! He asked for prayers for priests, that they may lead by example.

Today, Bishop Henry sees the family as the weakest point in the family-school-parish triangle which ideally forms children. He acknowledges having been very critical of Catholic schools; yet currently he has grave concerns about the family. His infectious resolve to defend and promote the good, i.e., to "push back," is a wake-up call to Canadian lay people not to stand by idly while special interest groups seek to coerce people and governments.

Defend Traditional Marriage and Family is working for the overthrow of Bill C-38, the July 2005 same-sex "marriage" law passed by the Martin government, urging Canadians to make their views known again to their MPs for the coming vote in Parliament this fall or winter. The members are also very concerned about their children being indoctrinated about same-sex "marriage" in school.