Dioceses act against Canadian legislators who supported same-sex bill

Published: 2005-07-11

OTTAWA (CNS) -- At least two dioceses in Canada have taken action against Catholic members of Parliament who supported the federal government's same-sex marriage bill. The two legislators, both members of the New Democratic Party who -- like their caucus colleagues -- were ordered by party leader Jack Layton to vote for Bill C-38 legalizing gay marriages in all provinces and territories, were taken to task for their support of gay marriage. In a July 6 letter read in churches in the southwestern Ontario Diocese of London July 9-10, Bishop Ronald Fabbro barred Windsor-Tecumseh legislator Joe Comartin from giving marriage preparation sessions. Bishop Fabbro said that "a person who does not accept Catholic teaching on fundamental matters is disqualified from acting on behalf of the church in a public capacity." Until Comartin has a change of mind about same-sex marriage, the ban would remain in effect, he said. Also, Charlie Angus, the member of Parliament for Timmins-James Bay, Ontario, was censured by his parish priest, Father John Lemire, who refused to give him Communion after he voted in favor of the bill.

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