OTTAWA, VANCOUVER — Same-sex marriage (SSM), they said, would be the slippery slope to polygamy.Just a few short years after Canadians engaged in a caustic debate over whether two men, or two women, should be allowed to marry, the prognosticators will find out if they are vindicated - however unhappily.
The lawyer for Winston Blackmore (pictured), the man with 19 wives in the B.C. religious community of Bountiful who is to appear in court today on polygamy charges, says he will cite Canada's gay-marriage laws as part of his defence.
It's an argument that people on both sides of the same-sex marriage fight were expecting: If same-sex marriage is justified under Charter rights to equality, then polygamy is justified under the Charter's protection of religious freedom.
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Some scholars feel that this will not fly as a defence. I'm not so sure. The Charter has been used effectively to allow SSM on the basis of equality. It will be interesting to say the least. The challenging part of this defence for Canada (if it succeeds) is that it will probably embolden Muslims who want to invoke Sharia law (multiple wives, easy divorce, minimize women's rights, etc.). They might then be able to do it under the protection of religious expression. Canada was founded upon and open to various people fleeing religious persecution - Mennonites, Duokobours, Huguenots, etc. Are we willing to now accept Mormon or Muslim law as equal with civil law in Canada?
"If my people..." God help us.
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2 comments:
Interesting how the GLAD crowd scoffed at the mere suggestion that this would be one of the complications in redefining marriage into an all-inclusive entity, without definition--other than "love".
Hey Craig:
God has been talking to me about polygamy over the last while as well... only in a different instance. I have been legally separated from my husband for 14years, however we have never actually divorced. He had moved in with another woman for several years (now no longer together)and Canadian "Common-Law" had given her all the rights that a married couple have (including legal access to my children).
When I was in prayer one day about this, the LORD spoke these words "The Common-Law in Canada has legalized adultery and legalized polygamy." Has the governing body in Canada opened up the door to spiritual polygamy through this as well? Maybe that explains why some Christians express tolerance of other religions rather than Jesus as the only way. He is our Bridegroom... but why not have more than one bridegroom... New Age, Budha, etc.
Just something to think (and pray)about...
God bless,
Debbie <><
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