Council of Churches cannot agree

Catholic New Times, Nov 21, 2004

OTTAWA -- As the Supreme Court of Canada held hearings on the legalization of same-sex marriages this month, the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) could not take a position said president Richard Schneider.

"Given the wide spectrum of positions and theologies in our member churches." he said, "there is no possibility of consensus."

The CCC includes 19 member denominations, including the Anglican and Catholic. The United Church, another member, supports the right of same sex couples to have access to civil marriage. It also upholds the right of religious groups to refuse to perform such ceremonies.

However, lawyers representing the Roman Catholic Church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Church of Latter Day Saints testified before the Supreme Court of Canada, that legalization could "cause jeopardy" for religions that teach against homosexual practices.

The Canadian Council has been able in the past to issue policy statements on such matters as ballistic missile defence, national health insurance and the war in Iraq.