Defence of marriage most urgent.

Ottawa--Defend Marriage Coalition is an association of twelve pro-family organizations from across Canada working together "toward a winning vote in Parliament in support of traditional marriage." Links to the twelve member groups are available from www.defendmarriage.ca/coalition.htm. The coalition has warned that religious groups will be subject to legal challenges if the definition of marriage continues to include same-sex couples, and that preliminary rulings by the Supreme Court reveal that SSM rights will be allowed to trump religious rights.

Pat O'Brien, former MP and now director of Vote Marriage Canada, considers the process by which the SSM bill became law to have been a gratuitous insult to the people of Canada. His group promotes and endorses pro-marriage candidates. The website www.votemarriageeanada.ca, offers some useful information about voting patterns and political parties. Gwen Landolt, national vice-president of REAL Women, has also observed that the legislation was pushed through undemocratically.

United Families Canada, a coalition member, has launched Restore Marriage, Canada as a project; see www.restoremarriagecanada.ca. The website offers a petition encouraging Ottawa to revisit this issue, as well as educational resources. Please join in the petition, but do not think that this removes the need for personal letters and contact.

Christian efforts to participate in and restore the political process must always be rooted in prayer. ProMarriage Network is a prayer group comprised of both Catholics and Protestants who recognize the traditional definition of marriage; see www.promarriage.ca. On its behalf, Rev. David Mainse and Mr. O'Brien plan a 100-city cross-Canada tour starting this fall. The group will host a Faith and Culture Conference in Ottawa October 2-4, 2006, "to assist our elected and civil leaders to understand how our faith is to affect our government, our culture and our nation." Readers may reach the group by using the call-in number 1-641-696-6600 and access code 114477.

URGENT REQUEST FROM CATHOLIC CIVIL RIGHT LEAGUE

Toronto--According to a Canadian Press report number of parliamentarians, including Conservative cabinet ministers, are questioning the wisdom of re-opening the same-sex "marriage" debate, despite the promise of the free vote that is widely expected in the fall.

Of the MPs who expressed reluctance, some said the issue has been widely debated already, while others said the change in the law did not appear to be causing problems for their constituents. Several said constituents had not mentioned the same-sex "marriage" issue to them, either before the election or since.

It is all too easy to read too much into a news report, but this one is probably accurate in suggesting that a lack of vocal support for the traditional definition of marriage could cause the issue to fall off the proverbial "radar screen." Those who are able to speak [communicate] with their MPs about the importance of the issue, and of the promised free vote, should make a point of doing SO.

The free vote is the pivotal first step in restoring respect for traditional marriage, and addressing the civil rights and children's rights issues raised by Bill C-38. Many of these concerns are articulated in the press release issued by the Defend Marriage Coalition when it invited religious leaders to stay involved in the debate.

Editor's Comment:

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay claimed that he had not received a single e-mail or letter on this subject. This was not true. But maybe you sent your MP a letter two years ago. Please, in the next few months, send your MP a message and repeat it in September. Hand-written letters are best. Ask your family and acquaintances to do the same.