Bishop says church will continue to fight for traditional marriages

Published: 2003-10-30

CAP-DE-LA-MADELEINE, Quebec (CNS) -- The Catholic Church's battle to retain the traditional definition of marriage is not over yet, said Bishop Jacques Berthelet, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Berthelet, who heads the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, Quebec, told the bishops' annual assembly Oct. 29 that "the game isn't over." He said the bishops would present arguments to the Supreme Court when it considers draft federal legislation to legalize same-sex marriages across Canada. On Oct. 9, a five-judge panel of the Supreme Court of Canada turned down an application by religious and family groups -- including the Catholic bishops of Ontario -- for permission to appeal a June 10 Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that opened the door to same-sex marriage in Ontario. That ruling was followed by similar court decisions in Quebec and British Columbia. Bishop Berthelet said that even if the government's bill wins the approval of the Supreme Court, it would still have to clear the House of Commons and the Senate before becoming law.

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