October 21, 2003

The Right Hon. Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons

Ottawa ON K1A 0a6

Dear Mr. Chretien:

As Canadian Unitarians, honouring the inherent worth and dignity of all persons, we have been encouraged by your efforts to implement court decisions extending equal marriage rights to all people.

As religious people, who honour Jewish and Christian Scripture as one of our sources, we are discouraged by the misuse of that heritage to foster prejudice against a segment of our population.  The selective use of a few verses should not influence public policy in contradiction to the over arching call of Scripture to have justice flow down from government like water.

We urge that this controversy be resolved before you leave office, by the adoption of the definition of marriage as the union of two persons, as proposed in your draft legislation.  This matter should not become a divisive election issue, with a majority voting on the rights of a minority. This rational and just action should be a part of your legacy, as important historically as Trudeau taking the government out of the bedrooms of the nation.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Bowen, President, Board of Trustees

cc: Hon. Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice

All Unitarian and Universalist congregations in Canada