Marriage

Having been given a green light by the Supreme Court of Canada, a Bill has been introduced in the House of Commons which would see the definition of Marriage altered to allow for the union of "two persons".

In order to provide some food for thought, various articles have been collected here. It is our hope that this information will help to inform Catholics and non-catholics alike, so that we can better understand the situation in the light of faith.

• What Parliament has to say
• The official Church teachings on Marriage
• COLF
• What the bishops have said
• Homilies and articles on Marriage
• Ministry to the GLBT community
• Novena to St. Joseph
• March for Marriage and Freedom
• Familyfest
• What Marriage means to Catholics

What Parliament has to say

Read the text of Bill C-38 which was introduced in Parliament by the Federal Justice Minister, Irwin Cotler on Tuesday, February 1, 2005.

National Campaign to elect a Pro-Trational Marriage Parliament

The official Church teachings on Marriage

The Second Vatican Council spoke about Marriage in Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World)

Pope Paul VI spoke about Marriage in his 1968 Encyclical Humanae Vitae, #8

In 1975, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a Declaration entitled Persona Humana: on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics

On October 1, 1986, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons

The Pontifical Council for the Family published a series of reflections on Family, Marriage and de facto Unions in November 2000.

On June 3, 2003, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published Considerations Regarding Proposals to give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons

The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks about the definition of marriage

COLF

The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) has prepared a brochure entitled Marriage Matters that sets out 12 of the most frequently asked questions in the current public debate on the redefinition of marriage.

The brochure contains pertinent answers to sensitive questions such as what is marriage; if people of the same sex love each other, why can't they get married; and what difference does it make to traditionally married couples if same-sex partners are allowed to marry?

The 12-page brochure is essential for those who wish to have an informed opinion on this matter. "It is a topic that concerns all of us, and calls for thoughtful reflection. There is a lot at stake," the document states. "We hope that the material in this leaflet will help members of the Catholic community to participate in the debate and we encourage you to discuss this vital question with your families, your friends, your colleagues and your members of Parliament."

The brochure is available free of charge in English and French through the COLF Secretariat. Contributions will gladly be accepted to help defray the cost of printing and mailing.

COLF has also published a reflection paper entitled In Love for Life in which it outlines the Conjugal, Social and Religious Significance of Marriage.

On February 23, 2005, the Catholic Organization for Life and Family addressed a letter to the members of the Federal Parliament and the Senate regarding Bill C-38.

In March 2005, COLF published a document entitled Does Marriage Have to be Redefined in Canada in which it outlined certain reasons for challenging Bill C-38.

On June 28, 2005, the Canadian House of Commons approved the adoption of Bill C-38. COLF issued a reaction on June 30, 2005.

What the Bishops have said

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Immediately following the publication of the Supreme Court's opinions on the matter of Marriage, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement. The Conference later issued comments on Bill C-38 in order to help Catholics understand the ramifications of the Bill. They have also published the texts of letters written to the Prime Minister, as well as to the leaders of the Conservative, NDP and Bloc Québecois parties.

On Wednesday, February 9, 2005, the CCCB published a Pastoral Letter on the redefinition of Marriage.

Following the vote which took place in the Federal Parliament following the first round of debates on Bill C-38, the CCCB published written comments.

On June 2, 2005, Msgr Mario Paquette, General Secretary of the CCCB sent a letter to the Members of the Senate and the House of Commons regarding the proposed changes to the meaning and nature of marriage.

On June 3, 2005, His Excellency, Brendan O'Brien, President of the CCCB sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada on the matter of Marriage.

Following the adoption of Bill C-38 by the Federal House of Commons, the CCCB issued comments in which they call upon the Senate of Canada to listen to the people of Canada prior to approving this legislation.

In a press release dated July 10, 2005, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced that Cardinal Ouellet will appear before the Special Legislative Committee on behalf of the CCCB to make a presentation on the matter of Marriage.

Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops

For its part, the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a media release on December 21, 2004. On March 15, 2005, His Excellency, Richard Smith, President of the OCCB wrote a letter of clarification to all MPPs.

More information is available at on the OCCB webpage.

Individual Bishops Statements

Read the text of Bishop Plouffe's letter to the faithful of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, published on January 18, 2005. Bishop Plouffe also issued a letter to the faithful of the diocese following the adoption of Bill C-38.

Read the text of the open letter sent by Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic to the Right Honorable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada.

His Holiness Benedict XVI's comments spoken at an ecclesial congress on the Family and Christian Unity, June 6, 2005.

Presentation to the Special Legislative Committee by His Excellency, Fred Henry, Bishop of Calgary.

Homilies and articles on Marriage

On the weekend of January 29-30, 2005, the priests of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie were asked to address the topic of Marriage. One of our priests has agreed to have the text of his homily published here.

Following the adoption of Bill C-38, Reverend Thomas Rosica, CSB published an article called Preserving what is deep, good and valid in our own heritage. One week later, he published another article entitled The Church and Homosexuality.

How is the Church present to the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered community?

Through the ministry of Courage, many gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered persons attempt to understand and live the teachings of the Catholic Church while supporting one another.

Novena to St. Joseph

A prayer to be recited for the nine days preceding the Feast of St. Joseph.

March for Marriage and Freedom

Concerned Catholics from various parts of the country will gather at a rally on Parliament Hill in protest against Bill C-38.

The rally is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 9, 2005 from 1:30 pm until 4:00 pm. Participants are invited to gather at the Supreme Court between midday and 12:30 pm.

For further information, please visit www.march4marriage.ca or send an email to canadians@march4marriage.ca

Familyfest

Familyfest 2005, an international one-day event for families, aims to present a positive vision of the family, the basic cell of society, showing how the family can spread a culture of peace and universal brotherhood and thus help to build a more united world.

This year's event will be based on the various life "seasons" of the famly: the birth of love, the arrival of children, the bleaker times and encounter with suffering. Everything, at this point, will focus on the meaning of love at its beginnings, in its purest forms.

For more information, visit www.focolare.ca or contact the Focolare Movement at 416-221-6897. They can also be reached at familyfest@focolare.ca

What Marriage means to Catholics

Marriage is
… a sacrament that a woman and a man bestow on each other,

… a natural institution that has served the needs of society by producing and educating new citizens,

… the domestic church where the great gift of the faith is passed on from generation to generation,

… a blessing of mutual love and intimacy between a man and a woman,

… the healthiest, safest and most successful setting for the long years of development and formation needed by children to become mature, contributing adults,

… the key institution that ensures the continuation of the human race and the prosperity of a nation,

… a wholesome healthy model for relationships that we should hold up to our children and grandchildren for emulation,

… an assurance to individuals of their place in the mainstream of humanity, their heredity and their self-worth,

… an institution that has endured and given stability to people for millennia in spite of disasters, wars, plagues and the encroachment of secular rulers,

… a contributor to the meaning of life, care for others, glimpses of immortality and a perspective beyond the self,

… a vocation for a man and a woman, not just a relationship, involving self-giving, a path to sanctity and the responsibility of dedicated parenthood.

A well-ordered society supports and enhances marriage between a man and a woman and gives it a privileged position for the sake of future generations.