B NDINGS Volume 25, No. 3 A Publication of New Ways Ministry Spring 2005 Cardinal’s anti-gay marriage letter draws condemnation By Allison Dunfield that Catholics don’t support same-sex the Canadian Forces have indicated this Ms. Kennedy called that ludicrous. The Globe and Mail marriage.” week that they will support same-sex “The legislation and the Supreme Toronto, Canada Ms. Kennedy cited an August, 2003, marriages on their bases, by drafting a Court decision was very clear. The January 19, 2005 Environics poll showing 57 per cent of policy for military clergy who may Catholic church does not have to marry Canadian Catholics are in favour of choose to perform the ceremonies. same-sex couples if it doesn’t want to.” TORONTO—A group representing allowing such unions. She said the In his letter to Cardinal Ambrozic’s letter is the progressive Catholics has condemned a cardinal is simply “fearmongering” Mr. Martin, published in Wednesday’s second high-profile church proposal in call by the Roman Catholic archbishop ahead of the Liberal government’s Globe and Mail, recent weeks. of Toronto for the Liberals to maintain proposed same-sex legislation. the cardinal Calgary marriage as a union between heterosexu- The letter is the latest gearing-up urged Mr. Bishop Fred als, calling his comments activity of groups on both sides of the Martin to use Henry recently “fearmongering” and out of touch with same-sex debate as they ready them- the notwith- sent a letter to his reality. selves to lobby either for or against standing clause followers arguing Challenge the Church, a Toronto- homosexual marriage ahead of the to allow for a that the state based organization of Catholics who Liberal bill, expected to be tabled some long-term must use its push human-rights issues within the time after Parliament resumes its discussion of coercive power church, argued Wednesday that com- session on Jan. 31. the possible either to pro- ments made by Cardinal Aloysius The Conservative Party launched an implications of scribe or to Ambrozic in a letter urging Prime advertising campaign against same-sex gay marriage. Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic curtail homosexu- Minister Paul Martin to block gay marriage Wednedsay, aimed especially The cardinal ality. That letter marriage are “Draconian.” at some in Canada’s ethnic community. asked Mr. causing a flurry “I would say the majority of Catholics Mr. Martin was forced to defend his Martin to use of angry mail and would disagree with him,” Helen government’s decision to introduce the the notwith- editorials across Kennedy, a spokeswoman for Challenge legislation during a trip to India this standing clause, the country. the Church, told globeandmail.com. week after a powerful Sikh religious which has five- Ms. Kennedy “He’s living in a cocoon if he thinks leader there condemned the idea. And Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic year lifespan, to allow for a “sober and said her group plans to hold a meeting careful decision on the matter.” this week to make further plans to lobby California Catholic school The notwithstanding clause is a MPs and get them to support the mechanism that the provincial and legislation. federal governments can use to override “It’s a wake-up call for gays and angers parents by admitting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, lesbians across the country. It puts us which provincial courts have cited in on notice that we really have to step up decisions upholding the right of gay and get in touch with our MPs.” gay couple’s sons couples to marry. The proposed legislation has the Gays and lesbians must be protected support of the Bloc Québécois, the NDP The Associated Press straightforward assurance to any under the Charter of Rights and Free- and some Liberals. Mr. Martin has January 2, 2005 prospective parent that their child will be doms just like any other group, Ms. publicly said that he supports same-sex taught the fullness of Roman Catholic Kennedy argued. marriage and has announced that cabinet COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) - A group of doctrine.” “It’s absolutely absurd to think that we members will be required to vote for the parents and parishioners has accused the School officials, however, rejected wouldn’t have the same rights as any bill, although the vote will be free for Orange County diocese of violating demands for a parental covenant last other Canadian,” Ms. Kennedy said. “It’s other MPs. church doctrine by allowing a gay couple week and issued a new policy stating human rights issue. You can’t cherry pick Tories launch anti-gay marriage ad to enroll their children in a Catholic that a family’s background “does not under the Charter.” The Conservative Party, meanwhile, is school. constitute an absolute obstacle to The cardinal’s letter contended that against the bill and has launched a print The group demanded last month that enrollment in the school.” Parliament’s passing same-sex marriage advertising campaign on the subject. St. John the Baptist School in Costa “I firmly believe that this policy is in legislation would affect the fabric of the Copies of the ad were supplied to Mesa accept only families that pledge to line with the teaching of the Catholic country’s social institutions, including media outlets on Wednesday. abide by Catholic teachings. That would Church,” Rev. Martin Benzoni, who schools, where children would have to The ad asks Canadians to send the likely bar the men’s two adopted boys oversees the 550-student elementary and be taught about same-sex relationships, Tories a reply on whether they support from attending the school’s kindergarten middle school, told the Times. and that it would teach society that gay marriage. because of church opposition to relation- Rev. Gerald M. Horan, superintendent of same-sex relationships are “morally With block letters reading: “Where do equivalent” to heterosexual ones— you draw the line”, the print ads show a ships and adoption by same-sex couples. schools operated by the diocese, sug- gested that hewing too closely to Catholic something the cardinal disagrees with. picture of Mr. Martin with a caption saying “This is not a radical or mean-spirited beliefs would mean banning children The Roman Catholic leader also feared he intends to impose gay marriage on approach to Catholic education,” the whose parents divorced, used birth that Catholics would be required to Canadians and a photo of Mr. Harper group told the school in a letter reviewed control or married outside the church. perform same-sex marriages against their saying he believes in traditional marriage. by the Los Angeles Times. “It is a Continued on page 4beliefs. Continued on page 4 Page 2 BONDINGS Volume 25, No. 3 B NDINGS Spain’s Catholic Church Spring 2005 Vol. 25, No. 3 Backs Condoms Francis DeBernardo, Editor Jennifer Morgan, Production Manager and Design The Associated Press “I think it was January 19, 2005 absolutely inevi- Board of Directors table that the Mary Byers MADRID—Spain’s Catholic Church said it sup- Church would Frank O’Donnell, SM ports the use of condoms to prevent the spread of change its stance,” Rev. Paul Thomas AIDS - a substantial shift from traditional policy. said the group’s The Vatican states that condoms, being a form of president, Beatriz Board of Advisors artificial birth control, cannot be used to help Gimeno. Mary Ann Coyle, SL prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that causes The daily newspa- William Hunt, SFO AIDS. per El Pais noted Patricia McDermott, RSM But “condoms have a place in the global preven- Beatriz Gimeno that as recently as Barbara Regan, rc tion of AIDS,” Juan Antonio Martinez Camino, November, the Spanish Bishops Conference had spokesman for the Spanish Bishops Conference, told vehemently opposed the Health Ministry’s Staff reporters after a meeting Tuesday with Health campaign to promote the use of condoms. The Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director Minister Elena Salgado to discuss ways of fighting paper quoted Martinez Camino as saying then Terence Cant, Program Specialist the disease. that it was “gravely false” to maintain that Jennifer Morgan, Staff Associate Martinez Camino said the Spanish Catholic contraceptives prevented the spread of HIV. Church’s stance is backed by the scientific world. In June, the president of the Pontifical Coun- Co-Founders He cited a recent study by experts in the medical cil for the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Sister Jeannine Gramick magazine Lancet that supported the so-called Trujillo, said condom use was “a form of Father Robert Nugent “ABC” approach of fighting AIDS - “A” for absti- Russian roulette” in fighting AIDS, El Pais nence, “B” for being faithful to partners, and “C” for said. The remark was roundly condemned by Bondings is a seasonal publication designed to keep condoms. the Spanish government, the World Health our subscribers informed of issues that pertain to lesbian “The Church is very worried and interested by this Organization and other organizations involved and gay people and the Catholic Church. problem,” he said. in fighting AIDS, the papers added. There was no comment from the Vatican to the The United Left parliamentary coalition Founded in 1977, New Ways Ministry is an educational Spanish statement. described the change in stance as “a historic and bridge-building ministry of reconciliation between The Spanish Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Trans- advance.” the Catholic gay and lesbian community and institutional sexuals and Bisexuals welcomed the change in policy. structures in the Roman Catholic Church. New Ways Ministry seeks to eradicate prevalent myths and stereotypes about homosexuality and supports civil Pope Advocates Education to rights for lesbian and gay persons in society.