Politics
Monday June 13, 2005
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
Gay Activists Claim Opposition to Gay “Marriage” Exempts Churches from Charitable Tax Status
OTTAWA, June 13, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Homosexual activist Kevin Bourassa, co-sponsor of equalmarriage.ca, along with his “spouse,” Joe Varnell – whose Ontario court win paved the way for same-sex “marriage” for Canada – claimed Sunday that churches who vocally oppose the legalization of same-sex “marriage” for Canada should have their charitable status revoked, for participating in politics.
“We have no problem with the Catholic Church or any other faith group promoting bigotry,” Bourassa charged, as reported by the Ottawa Citizen. “We have a problem with the Canadian government funding that bigotry.”
Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler admitted Wednesday that, under the proposed Liberal same-sex “marriage” bill, there would be no guarantees of protection for religious organizations that refuse to “marry” homosexuals.
Calgary Bishop Fred Henry was called and warned by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency last year not to engage in partisan rhetoric during an election for comments the bishop made about Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Associate secretary general of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Bede Hubbard said that Church involvement in forming public opinion on matters of morals is perfectly legitimate and legal. “Right from the very beginning, the representatives of the government have called on Canadians to express their opinions,” Hubbard said. “And certainly, Canadian churches are among Canadian citizens.”
Some politicians and several religious groups are calling for an amendment to the bill to include a provision that churchs’ tax status would not be challenged. “The loss of the charitable tax status would really affect the ability of these ministries to carry out their functions,” said Evangelical Fellowship of Canada director of law and public policy Janet Epp Buckingham. “That includes a lot of things that are beneficial to society, like homeless ministries, outreach to the poor, and international development.”
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Canadian Government Admits Religions Not Protected Under Federal Gay ‘Marriage’ Legislation
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jun/05060902.html
Canada Tax Authority Warns Calgary Bishop to Avoid "Partisan" Rhetoric during Elections
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/sep/04092902.html
Canadian Bishop Details Government Threats Over Church Teaching on Same-Sex ‘Marriage’
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jun/05060805.html
See the Ottawa Citizen report: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?i...
tv
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- Fr. Neuhaus Passed Away This Morning
- Spanish Judge Convicted of "Homophobia" for Not Approving Adoption by Lesbian Partner
- Canadian Polygamy Law Faces Challenge as Charges Laid against Bountiful Cult Leaders
- 23-Week Old British Premie Spared Abortion, Goes Home with Family
- Co-Creator of the Pill Laments Resulting Demographic "Horror Scenario"
- Doctors Who Refuse Assisted Suicide “Genuinely Wicked” says UK Bioethics “Philosopher Queen”
- President Bush Urges Republicans to Defend Culture of Life
- Terri Schiavo’s Brother Responds after Obama Appoints Lawyer Who Helped Kill Terri to High Position
- By the Numbers: The Ten Most Popular LifeSiteNews.com Stories of 2008
- Doctor of Dogmatic Theology and Ob/Gyn Condemn Early Induction Abortions at Catholic Hospital in London Ontario
- Medical Expert Says that Contraceptive Pill is Causing Global Rise in Male Infertility
- Carleton University Pro-Life Group to Host Silent No More Campaign after Two Years of Opposition from Student Association
- Jacqueline Kasun, Pro-life and Anti-Population Control Activist and Author, Passes Away
- Greek Bishop Sues Homosexualist Group for Defamation
- Top 10 Pro-Abortion Moments of 2008
- Pro-Life Club Resurrected At Canadian Christian College
Most Read this Week
- Vatican Newspaper Publishes Article Detailing Birth Control Pill as Cause of Abortion and Cancer
- Obama Selects Yet another Pro-Abortion "Catholic" for Leading Office
- Abortion Group Ipas Defends Abortion Targeting Unborn Girls
- NBC Boots Top Conservative Pundit Ann Coulter from Today Show, Quickly Rebooks Following Uproar
- Medical Expert Says that Contraceptive Pill is Causing Global Rise in Male Infertility
- Mother Refuses All Further "Parental" Visits with Daughter by Former Lesbian Partner as Trial Looms
- New Jersey Rules against Christian Group that Declined to Host Lesbian Civil Union Ceremony
- Outspokenly Orthodox, Pro-life Archbishop Takes Over in Vancouver Diocese
- Kissinger on Obama: "The Reception of Him is So Extraordinary Around The World ... a New World Order Can Be Created"
- New Survey Finds Only 9% of Americans Support Unrestricted Abortion
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.