Improving the Quantity and Quality  
Of Canada's Religious News  
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Blog1
How the Western Media Sees Islam (or not)
June 04, 2008
Jerusalem – He is a professor of Islamic Studies at Al Quds University in Jerusalem, and he has s... Read More

On Holy Ground
March 24, 2008
Last week, the Mayor of Vancouver stood on the steps of a downtown Catholic church to make an imp... Read More

Underneath the Helmet Issue
March 07, 2008
It seems the only time we hear about Canada’s Sikh community in the media is when there is ... Read More

Blog2
Brainwashing or simple parenting?
March 24, 2008
Children being raised in a religious environment is a volatile issue, at least to anti-theists. A... Read More

Lord’s Prayer
March 04, 2008
In Ontario’s it’s often the little things that kick up the biggest fuss. This time, i... Read More

Tip:

Religion and Politics in Canada is always a hot topic in a pre-election period.  For an informed look at how the Canadian government should reconsider the role of religion in our country, see the article by Iain Benson, Executive Director of the Centre for Cultural Renwal titled:   "Taking a Fresh Look at Religion and Public Policy in Canada: The Need for a Paradigm Shift."

http://www.culturalrenewal.ca and click on "Federal Study on Religion and Public Policy"

At long last, the report from Gerard Bouchard and Charles Taylor on reasonable accommodation in Quebec has been released, and provides a wealth of story ideas for reporters covering religion in Canada.  For an abridged pdf of the full report, check out this webpage for "Building the Future: A Time for Reconciliation".   Bear in mind that the Commission was launched out of concerns in Quebec over Muslim headscarves, Sikh kirpans, and the possibility of sharia law coming to Canada….so the implications of accommodating religious practices, values, traditions and rights are analyzed within the framework of Canadian society and national values.  Here is the website:

http://www.accommodements.qc.ca


Article Details

Article Added On: December 21, 2004 - over 3 years ago
Title: Internal Splits Emerge in Canadian Parties Over Gay Marriage
Author: Clifford Krauss
Publication: The New York Times
Publication Date: January 01, 2004 - over 4 years ago
Faith Groups: Muslim
Themes: religion in politics

Abstract: While the majority of Canadians passively accept the Supreme Court of Canada's latest ruling on same-sex marriage, Muslim populations and immigrant communities are emerging as a huge opponent. The New York Times reports.

December 19, 2004

TORONTO, Dec. 18 - A week after the Supreme Court gave the government the constitutional go-ahead to expand marriage rights to gays and lesbians, a bitter battle has emerged in Parliament that is creating deep fissures in the Liberal and Conservative parties.

Polls indicate that a comfortable majority of Canadians actively support or passively accept legislation being prepared by Prime Minister Paul Martin to redefine marriage across the country. Already courts in six provinces and one territory, all told including 85 percent of the population of nearly 32 million, have struck down old marriage laws to allow gays and lesbians to marry. Only minor protests have occurred.

But pockets of dissent have emerged in rural areas and suburbs of Toronto with heavy immigrant and Muslim populations, putting as much as one-quarter of the governing Liberal caucus in the House of Commons in a political quandary. Mr. Martin has said that Liberal backbenchers may vote their conscience but that cabinet members must toe the party line in favor of the legislation.

Already two members of the cabinet have said they may have to resign and vote against the government. A few defections from the cabinet, however, would probably not jeopardize final passage of the marriage legislation, which will be introduced when Parliament comes back into session late next month. The majority of Liberals supporting the bill will be joined by nearly all the members of the opposition Bloc Qu



 
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