Canadian pro-family groups say victory may be temporary

Published: 2006-01-25

OTTAWA (CNS) -- Pro-family groups said Canadian voters rejected Prime Minister Paul Martin's values, but they warned that the narrow Conservative Party victory may only temporarily stem social trends they find disturbing. "Mr. Martin used same-sex marriage and abortion to paint the Tories (Conservative Party) as rabid right-wingers, while conveniently ignoring the dozens of social conservatives among his own MPs (members of Parliament) who sided against his policy," said Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary, Alberta. "Nevertheless, the move backfired, as almost 60 percent of the candidates endorsed by Vote Marriage Canada were elected. "Martin distanced himself even further from the teaching of the church on the right to life of the unborn," Bishop Henry said in a Jan. 24 e-mail. Bishop Henry said that the newly elected Conservative prime minister, Stephen Harper, cannot waffle on life issues. "Mr. Harper is going to have to learn that he will not always have the luxury of playing peek-a-boo with life issues," said Bishop Henry. "The government cannot be neutral on the question of abortion.

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