Catholic World News News Feature
Pro-abortion Canadian PM says he's "strong Roman Catholic" June 24, 2005
In the midst of making plans to extend the Canadian parliament's current session into the summer, and forcing Members of Parliament (MP's) to daily sit in the House until as late as midnight in order to ram through Bill C-38 to create same-sex marriage, Prime Minister Paul Martin has made a public profession of his personal religious beliefs.
"I'm actually a very strong Roman Catholic," Martin told Vancouver's CKN radio station Monday. However, he then continued, referring to his views on same-sex marriage, "But I'm also a legislator, and I believe that clearly what I've got to do is take the widest perspective possible. And that perspective leads me to believe that the Charter of Rights is a fundamental pillar of our democracy."
Martin then went on to repeat his intention to quickly pass C-38, which has been through two of the necessary three readings in the House of Commons.
Martin's comments are in stark contrast to the long-held doctrines of the Catholic Church, including their recent emphasis by Calgary Bishop Fred Henry who pointed out in a pastoral letter that the media's reference to Martin as a "devout Catholic" is improper due to the Prime Minister's support for abortion and gay marriage legislation.
Bishop Henry has also expressed concern for the eternal welfare of the Prime Minister, saying of the PM's support for same-sex marriage: "He's putting at risk his eternal salvation. I pray for the Prime Minister because I think his eternal salvation is in jeopardy. He is making a morally grave error and he's not being accountable to God." Bishop Henry has said he would refuse Martin Communion and would consider excommunicating him.
Archbishop Marcel Gervais of Ottawa, Archbishop Raymond Roussin of Vancouver, and the Canadian bishops' conference were all unavailable for comment prior to deadline.
