╨╧рб▒с>■  )+■   (                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ье┴M Ё┐кbjbjт=т= "АWАWк      l       4╘╘╘╘ р4?╢╛└└└└└└$ї  Рф фА  ∙АААR  ╛А╛А>А╛  ╛Ї  Л[┤х─4а╘R.╛╛0?╛е Ае ╛А44    ┘For Immediate Release Thursday, December 9, 2004 CANADAТS SUPREME COURT RULING BALANCES EQUALITY AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM The United Church of Canada says the Supreme CourtТs ruling on same-sex marriage is a positive step towards justice Toronto: CanadaТs largest Protestant denomination, The United Church of Canada, said today that it welcomes the Supreme Court ruling on the governmentТs proposed same-sex marriage legislation. In its submission presented last October to the Supreme Court of Canada, the United Church spoke in support of the right of same-sex couples to be legally married, and also in support of the right of religious officials and congregations to decide for themselves whether they will make religious marriage services available to same-sex couples. УA significant, unique contribution that the United Church brings to this debate is the denominationТs own experience of making same-sex marriage ceremonies available to its members and, at the same time, respecting the right of those within the denomination who are opposed to such services,Ф explains Choice Okoro, the United ChurchТs program officer for human rights. Okoro says this is possible because within the United Church, decisions about whether to make marriage services available to same-sex couples must be made on a congregation-by-congregation basis as part of the establishment of each congregationТs marriage policy. She explains that while the United Church unequivocally supports the right of same-sex couples to have access to civil marriage, it also unequivocally supports the right of religious communities to refuse to perform such marriages. УThe United Church believes that equality and religious freedom can live side by side, supporting each other and building a stronger society,Ф says Okoro. УReligious marriage is not, and cannot be, affected by the proposed legislation. All religious communities in Canada, whatever their views on same-sex marriage, have the absolute right to determine for themselves who will be eligible for religious marriage within their communities,Ф explains Okoro. She adds that this includes the right to determine whether the community will offer religious marriages to interfaith couples, to divorced couples, or to couples who are not members of the community. The United Church also maintains that the religious freedom of religious communities who object to same-sex marriage will not be infringed by the proposed legislation because they cannot be compelled to offer marriages which violate their religious beliefs. УThe mere fact that civil marriage is available to same-sex couples does not constitute an attack on the religious beliefs of those who are opposed to same-sex unions,Ф explains Okoro. УMore importantly, the United Church does not believe that the faith stance of a community which supports same-sex marriage undermines the faith stance of a community that does not.Ф The United Church believes that the protection for conscientious objection to performing same-sex marriages, which is provided by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and affirmed in the proposed legislation, does not conflict with the right of same-sex couples to marry. Okoro also says that the enactment of the proposed legislation will mean that same-sex couples will be able to obtain civil marriage on demand. УWhile they may not be able to obtain religious marriage on demand, depending on the views of the particular congregation, that is also the case of many other couples, such as interfaith couples.Ф The United Church of Canada has long supported the civil recognition of same-sex partnerships. In August 2000, the 37th General Council affirmed that human sexual orientations, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are a gift from God and part of the marvellous diversity of creation. The Council further resolved to advocate for the civil recognition of same-sex partnerships. In August 2003, the 38th General Council decided Уto call upon the Government of Canada to recognize same-sex marriages in marriage legislation.Ф For further information or to arrange media interviews, please contact: Mary-Frances Denis Communications Officer The United Church of Canada 416-231-7680 ext. 2016 (business) --30-- 12Yxy√"Zjkьэ7азк¤ўЇЁщщхх5Б\Б aJmH sH 6Б]БCJ 5БCJ \БCJ12Yxyэюп░  }~Ж З o p  tuМН∙ўїЁюющщщщщщщщщщщщщщщщщщщщщ$a$$a$ ╞└!к¤Нтуэюя7Ja}Яазийк···°°°°°°°°є°°°$a$$a$ 1Рh░╨/ ░р=!░"░#Ра$Ра%░ i8@ё 8 NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH <@< Heading 1$$@&a$ 5БCJ \Б<A@Є б< Default Paragraph Font:P@Є: Body Text 25Б6БCJ\Б]Бк    12Yxyэюп░  }~ЖЗop      t u М Н т у эюя7Ja}ЯазиймЪ@0А3Ъ@0А3 @0ААЪ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0А Ъ@0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААк Нк к @E~Г 16╢ ╗ Н Т м[ДЛэЯам3  Mary-Frances Denis6H:\My Documents\Supreme Court on Same-Sex Marriage.doc Peter CowleyD\\Kirk\galaxies\html\Canadian Supreme Court on Same-Sex Marriage.doc @АЁ/Vкp@  Unknown            GРЗz А Times New Roman5РАSymbol3&Р Зz А Arial"qИЁ╨h╘ЭМ╘ЭМi╜ С#Ёа┤┤ББ20▀2ГQЁ  For Immediate ReleaseMary-Frances Denis Peter Cowley■ рЕЯЄ∙OhлС+'│┘0РРШ╕─рь°  $0 L X dpxАИфFor Immediate Release9or Mary-Frances Denissaryary Normal.dots Peter CowleyDen2teMicrosoft Word 9.0s@^╨▓@H▒K┤х─@H▒K┤х─i╜ ■ ╒═╒Ь.УЧ+,∙о0 hpРШаи ░╕└╚ ╨ ЄфUnited Church of Canada▀э For Immediate Release Title ■   ■   ■   !"#$%&'■   ¤   *■   ■   ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Root Entry         └F~Н[┤х─,А1Table            WordDocument        "SummaryInformation(    DocumentSummaryInformation8             CompObj    jObjectPool            ~Н[┤х─~Н[┤х─            ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ■       └FMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8Ї9▓q