|
Good morning.
The Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) represents all
Unitarian and Universalist Congregations in Canada and is a
national religious body that is part of an international
movement.
Among its other principles, the CUC
affirms and promotes:
- the inherent worth and dignity of all
persons, and
- justice, equity and compassion in human
relations.
Based on these principles, the CUC
strongly supports equal-marriage rights for all Canadians,
regardless of sexual orientation, and opposes "separate but
equal" civil unions.
The Canadian Unitarian Council has a
long history as champions of human rights and has advocated
repeatedly for equal-marriage rights. Unitarians believe
that marriage is the legal and sacramental recognition of
the love between two individuals and their commitment to
care for and support one another.
All Unitarian and Universalist
ministers and lay chaplains serving in Canada today have
stated publicly that they are willing to perform same-sex
marriages. And many have performed such marriages following
recent changes to the legislation of some provincial
governments.
Canadian Unitarians applaud the federal
government's efforts to implement court decisions extending
equal marriage rights to all Canadians. We support the
provisions in the government’s proposed legislation that
guarantees the right of ministers not to perform
marriages of which they do not approve.
The Canadian Unitarian Council welcomes
the opportunity to argue before the Supreme Court that the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects our religion’s
rights to recognize gay and lesbian marriages. Just as
clergy of other faiths want the right to refuse to perform
ceremonies of which they do not approve, Unitarians want the
freedom to perform those marriages we feel to be appropriate
for our members and friends.
While some clergy want the freedom to
say "no" to same-sex marriage, Unitarians seek the freedom
to say "yes"!
Elizabeth Bowen
CUC Past president
Tuesday, October 5, 2004. Press
conference prior to Supreme Court hearings, Oct 6-8, in the
matter of the definition of marriage.
|
