Montreal, Canada, Jan 26, 2005 / 22:00 pm
A coalition of Quebec-based Catholic organizations launched a postcard campaign yesterday, which they hope will persuade Parliamentarians to vote against the same-sex marriage legislation Paul Martin’s Liberal government is expected to introduce next week.
The SOS Marriage Coalition is urging citizens to sign and mail a postcard, which indicates that they do not support the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples, to their members of Parliament.
The Quebec coalition includes the Knights of Columbus, the Quebec Catholic Lawyers Association, a pro-life group called Campagne Québec-Vie, and the Association of Catholic Parents of Quebec. The press release stated that the coalition has the support of the Assembly of Quebec Bishops. The coalition has chapters across Canada.
Prime Minister Paul Martin's position in favor of same-sex marriage is linked to "electoral motivations that have nothing to do with the future of the country and the well-being of families and children," Quebec spokesman Emile Colas told the news conference yesterday.
"We are in a virtual dictatorship because [Liberal] cabinet ministers don't have the right to vote, and if they are opposed they have to call in sick that day," said Colas, honorary president of the Quebec Catholic Lawyers Association.