Let People Decide on Same-Sex 'Marriage,' Says Canadian Activist
by Chad Groening
December 13, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A Canadian pro-family activist says despite Parliament's failure to restore the traditional definition of marriage last week, the vast majority of ordinary Canadians still believe marriage is strictly between one man and one woman. Canada's Parliament voted 175-123 on December 7 against a resolution put forth by Prime Minister Stephen Harper that would have once again defined marriage in that country as the union of a man and a woman.
Brian Rushfeldt of the Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC) had held out hope for a narrow victory in favor of one-man, one-woman marriage, but was disappointed by the result -- which, according to Rushfeldt, does not accurately reflect the will of the people (see related story). He says even a recent poll in liberal Quebec found that 84 of those surveyed believe in the traditional definition of marriage.
The CFAC leader also notes that not many homosexuals have even taken advantage of the new law imposed by Parliament three years ago. "When you look at the numbers, we've only had between ten and twelve thousand supposed homosexual marriages," he points out. "Now, we know that some of those aren't even Canadian people; so we know that there probably isn't even that many Canadian [same-sex] marriages."
In addition, says Rushfeldt, most Canadians did not want the government to shove homosexual "marriage" down their throats in the first place. "There's certainly not a huge number of general Canadian citizens who either care about it or want this to be done," he contends. "And most of the polls that have been asking proper questions have indicated that about two-thirds of Canadians still want marriage as a man and a woman for reasons of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, for children's rights."
So, the Coalition spokesman notes, if the Canadian Parliament will not restore marriage, then it is up to the people. "The Prime Minister tomorrow could stand up in the House and say he's going to have a referendum on it and declare that," the activist adds, "because the process is that simple."
Rushfeldt says his group is going to urge Prime Minister Harper to call for such a referendum. All Canadians, Rushfeldt asserts, should be given the chance to decide the issue via a people's referendum.
Chad Groening, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
