DOING THE RIGHT THING CAME WITH A BIG PERSONAL PRICE
So, what exactly is a Christian leader of a country to do? A Catholic leader, nonetheless. Of only 4 countries on this great earth of ours, Canada passed the same-sex marriage law in July. And Canada's Prime Minister, Paul Martin, is a Roman Catholic. It could happen that this man could be refused Holy Communion in his church because of his decision for his country.
""The prime minister said Friday that gay marriage is not an issue of faith -- but of fundamental human rights.
"I believe in the Charter of Rights, and I do not believe that the prime minister of the country can cherry pick those rights," Martin said in Vancouver."
You can read further about this HERE.
And in yet another story, "Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin called the proposal "unfortunate".
"I am a practicing Catholic, in fact I am a strong Catholic,'' Martin told a Vancouver news conference following meetings with visiting Mexican President Vicente Fox.
"But I am also a legislator and I believe in the separation of church and state.''
Martin said his responsibility as prime minister was to uphold Canadians' rights as defined by the courts and to take the widest possible perspective into account.
"I believe in the Charter of Rights and I do not believe the prime minister of the country can cherry-pick those rights,'' he said.
"Have I discussed (this) with senior churchmen, with bishops? The answer is yes, I have. But as far as any further comment, I'm a legislator and that's public and I will comment on my public position. As a Catholic, that's my faith and I'll keep that to myself.''
And then in Sunday's paper, I read that his local parish priest publicly said that "the Prime Minister will always be welcome to receive the sacrament of communion in his home riding. We can't use the eucharist as a time to judge a person's conscience by refusing them communion." Well I'm glad to hear that, and I hope this priest doesn't get shuffled quietly out of the way by the Vatican now.....
I have to applaud this man. He is doing the best thing from a leader's standpoint for his country's people, while putting what he practises in his church (sacraments, holy communion) at risk. For a lot of people, that would be a dilemma agonizing enough to make them feel the utmost reticence but he did what was right regardless. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. This alone could get you my vote next election day!
I agree with him that there has to be a separation between church and state with this issue. Human rights are at stake here!! We all need a little faith and a person's religious practise is a good thing. But to me that means basically the Golden Rule....."do unto others"... and all the good stuff for humanity that comes along with that. And that INCLUDES human rights issues, treating our fellow brother and sister as an equal and with love, tolerance and compassion. How can one feel he is treating his fellow man that way if he says "no human rights issues for YOU, you're GAY!" Um.......excuse me, but that just doesn't cut it for me. Neither does telling a man who regards human rights issues important being told "well if that's how you feel, then you can't practise your faith in OUR church." OMG don't even get me started........I won't ever shut up!
There are so many practising Catholics who are gay. They can be loving, kind, decent and moral individuals who most of us would be happy to have as neighbours and friends. But because God made them as they are, some people in this world feel they shouldn't have the same basic rights that others have?? Well I loudly disagree.
To all my gay brothers and sisters in this world, I apologize for the terrible way you are treated by some others who choose to hate and condemn instead of showing compassion. ESPECIALLY those who bleat about the religious "goodness" they have in their lives, yet turn on a fellow man for something that was God's decision anyway.
IF GOD HAD WANTED US OTHERWISE, HE WOULD HAVE CREATED US OTHERWISE. You can't argue with that.
Love Jude
""The prime minister said Friday that gay marriage is not an issue of faith -- but of fundamental human rights.
"I believe in the Charter of Rights, and I do not believe that the prime minister of the country can cherry pick those rights," Martin said in Vancouver."
You can read further about this HERE.
And in yet another story, "Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin called the proposal "unfortunate".
"I am a practicing Catholic, in fact I am a strong Catholic,'' Martin told a Vancouver news conference following meetings with visiting Mexican President Vicente Fox.
"But I am also a legislator and I believe in the separation of church and state.''
Martin said his responsibility as prime minister was to uphold Canadians' rights as defined by the courts and to take the widest possible perspective into account.
"I believe in the Charter of Rights and I do not believe the prime minister of the country can cherry-pick those rights,'' he said.
"Have I discussed (this) with senior churchmen, with bishops? The answer is yes, I have. But as far as any further comment, I'm a legislator and that's public and I will comment on my public position. As a Catholic, that's my faith and I'll keep that to myself.''
And then in Sunday's paper, I read that his local parish priest publicly said that "the Prime Minister will always be welcome to receive the sacrament of communion in his home riding. We can't use the eucharist as a time to judge a person's conscience by refusing them communion." Well I'm glad to hear that, and I hope this priest doesn't get shuffled quietly out of the way by the Vatican now.....
I have to applaud this man. He is doing the best thing from a leader's standpoint for his country's people, while putting what he practises in his church (sacraments, holy communion) at risk. For a lot of people, that would be a dilemma agonizing enough to make them feel the utmost reticence but he did what was right regardless. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. This alone could get you my vote next election day!
I agree with him that there has to be a separation between church and state with this issue. Human rights are at stake here!! We all need a little faith and a person's religious practise is a good thing. But to me that means basically the Golden Rule....."do unto others"... and all the good stuff for humanity that comes along with that. And that INCLUDES human rights issues, treating our fellow brother and sister as an equal and with love, tolerance and compassion. How can one feel he is treating his fellow man that way if he says "no human rights issues for YOU, you're GAY!" Um.......excuse me, but that just doesn't cut it for me. Neither does telling a man who regards human rights issues important being told "well if that's how you feel, then you can't practise your faith in OUR church." OMG don't even get me started........I won't ever shut up!
There are so many practising Catholics who are gay. They can be loving, kind, decent and moral individuals who most of us would be happy to have as neighbours and friends. But because God made them as they are, some people in this world feel they shouldn't have the same basic rights that others have?? Well I loudly disagree.
To all my gay brothers and sisters in this world, I apologize for the terrible way you are treated by some others who choose to hate and condemn instead of showing compassion. ESPECIALLY those who bleat about the religious "goodness" they have in their lives, yet turn on a fellow man for something that was God's decision anyway.
IF GOD HAD WANTED US OTHERWISE, HE WOULD HAVE CREATED US OTHERWISE. You can't argue with that.
Love Jude
posted by Jude at Monday, October 03, 2005
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