Monday, May 22, 2006
What is Bill C-38?
In a nutshell, C-38 is a bill that was passed by the Senate in July 2005 which expanded the traditional definition of marriage in Canada.
Prior to Bill C-38, Canadian law recognized civil marriage as an exclusively heterosexual insititution, the lawful union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
To quote the opening statements of Bill C-38: The Marriage Act:
The Bill codifies a definition of marriage for the first time in Canadian law, expanding on the traditional common-law understanding of civil marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution. Bill C-38 defines civil marriage as "the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others," thus extending civil marriage to conjugal couples of the same sex.
This is important to the Canadian evangelical church for a variety of reasons, many of which I anticipate will be brought up through the course of this conversation. What do you think should be important to the church right now?
In light of this, the reality remains that the church in Canada is facing issues that go far beyond an updated definition of marriage. Suddenly, The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been very purposefully launched into the limelight. This debate is no longer just about same-sex couples. It's also about the rights and freedoms of homosexual people in general, whether they are in a relationship or not.
There is little doubt that Bill C-38 has ushered in a new set of questions. The challenge here is that the answers to the questions are about as clear as mud.
Prior to Bill C-38, Canadian law recognized civil marriage as an exclusively heterosexual insititution, the lawful union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
To quote the opening statements of Bill C-38: The Marriage Act:
The Bill codifies a definition of marriage for the first time in Canadian law, expanding on the traditional common-law understanding of civil marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution. Bill C-38 defines civil marriage as "the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others," thus extending civil marriage to conjugal couples of the same sex.
This is important to the Canadian evangelical church for a variety of reasons, many of which I anticipate will be brought up through the course of this conversation. What do you think should be important to the church right now?
In light of this, the reality remains that the church in Canada is facing issues that go far beyond an updated definition of marriage. Suddenly, The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been very purposefully launched into the limelight. This debate is no longer just about same-sex couples. It's also about the rights and freedoms of homosexual people in general, whether they are in a relationship or not.
There is little doubt that Bill C-38 has ushered in a new set of questions. The challenge here is that the answers to the questions are about as clear as mud.
