According to a front page article in today's National Post, the results of a recent COMPAS poll show that the majority of Canadians would support increased protection for the religious rights of those who oppose same-sex marriage and homosexual practice.
A majority of Canadians believe marriage commissioners should be allowed to refuse to perform a same-sex marriage if it is against their religious beliefs, according to a new public opinion poll.
A COMPAS poll conducted last week found 57% of those surveyed said officials who conduct generally secular wedding ceremonies should be allowed to "not officiate at gay marriages," provided there are enough marriage commissioners available for same-sex unions.
The Conservative government has proposed introducing a defence of religions act that would allow officials to refuse to perform gay marriages, protect the free speech of anti-gay religious leaders and protect organizations that refuse to do business with gays and lesbians.
The COMPAS poll suggested there would be significant public support for such a move, with 72% of those contacted for the survey saying that clergy should have the right not to marry a same-sex couple if it runs counter to their beliefs. [click here to read more]
It would be encouraging if the federal opposition parties would heed this poll and support a defence of religions act instead of crying out how it violates the Charter of Rights (which is really quite a inconsistent argument, as Janet Buckingham of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada pointed out in her article Are Charter Rights Only for Some?).
Isn’t it strange when those who uphold both the traditional idea (and these had their basis in the bible, anyway) of what is correct, as well as the Christian teachings on issues of marriage, etc are the ones being put on the defensive in a country like Canada? What indeed is going on? Even so, come Lord Jesus!
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