Politics
Tuesday January 10, 2006
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
Archbishop Criticizes PM Martin for Threat to Remove Notwithstanding Clause
OTTAWA, Ontario, January 10, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Archbishop Brendan O’Brien, of the diocese of St. Johns, Newfoundland-Labrador, criticized Prime Minister Paul Martin for threatening to remove the notwithstanding clause from the Constitution, after previously indicating he would consider using it to protect them from performing gay ‘marriages.’
“That statement was meant as a reassurance to the churches, and it was reassuring,” said Archbishop O’Brien, in an interview with LifeSiteNews today. “Removing the clause would certainly put us in a more vulnerable position.”
In the leadership debates last night Martin said the first act of a new Liberal government would be the removal of the clause from the Constitution.
Archbishop O’Brien said churches could withdraw from witnessing civil marriages as a way of avoiding homosexual unions, if necessary.
“But even without the clause, would we be forced to perform homosexual ‘marriages’?” he said. “Would the courts force us to perform sacramental marriages [for homosexual unions]? I doubt that.”
Archbishop O’Brien was president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) from 2003-2005. He is presently a member of the CCCB’s Social Affairs Commission.
For complete LifeSiteNews coverage of PM Martin’s statement, see:
To see a transcript of last nights’ leaders debate, go to:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060109...
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- Firefighters' Lawsuit against City Over Forced Participation in Gay Pride Parade Ends in Mistrial
- Victory: Supreme Court Allows "Choose Life" License Plates in AZ
- Update: Obama Supporter Dr. Cafardi Resigns from Franciscan University Board
- Legislators Seek Abortion-on-Demand for Every State in Mexico
- Video Catches Planned Parenthood Covering Up Statutory Rape
- Kenyan Cardinal Blasts Attempt to Legalise Abortion
- Franciscan University Board Member Backs Obama, School Distances Itself
- Democratic Platform Promises, Republican Platform Rejects More Abortion Overseas
- San Francisco Catholic Charities Ends Relationship with the US' "Gayest Adoption Agency"
- US Government Cuts Off Supplies to Marie Stopes International
- Pope Commends Knights of Columbus for their Pro-Life Work
- The 16th International Week of Prayer and Fasting
- Billy Graham to Turn 90: Public Invited to Send Personal Stories, Birthday Wishes
- Catholic Magazine Calls For Defeat And Removal Of Prime Minister Harper
Most Read this Week
- Extreme Pro-Abortion Feminist Heather Mallick Scheduled to Speak at Catholic St. Mary's University
- Sarah Palin Speaks on Abortion, Contraception, Homosexuality
- Martin Sheen Stars in Ad Opposing Assisted Suicide in Washington State
- Abortion Patient of George Tiller Feared for Life: 'They're Liable to Kill Me'
- Bella Star Eduardo Saves Five Unborn Babies' Lives
- CBC Apologises for "Porn Star" Attack on Palin
- Russia: 64% of Pregnancies End in Abortion
- Catholic Magazine Calls For Defeat And Removal Of Prime Minister Harper
- Eduardo Verastegui Talks about Obama, Saving Babies Outside L.A. Abortion Clinic
- Swedish Man Awarded $24,170 Compensation after Filming Himself Having Sex with 14 Year-Old
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.