Article Added On: January 30, 2005 - over 3 years ago
Title: 'Arrogant' Pettigrew blasted by Christian author
Author: Don Retson
Publication: The Edmonton Journal
Publication Date: January 01, 2005 - over 3 years ago
Faith Groups: Other Christian
Themes: same sex marriage/blessing

Abstract: An American Christian author and motivational speaker called a federal cabinet minister arrogant for telling the church to butt out of the debate over same-sex legislation. Bruce Wilkinson made a stinging rebuke of Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, saying that Pettigrew made a value judgment he had no right to make as a political leader.

Sunday, January 30, 2005

EDMONTON -- An American Christian author and motivational speaker called a federal cabinet minister arrogant for telling the church to butt out of the debate over same-sex legislation.

"Arrogance is a strong word, but he (made) an extremely strong statement," Bruce Wilkinson said in a stinging rebuke of Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, adding that Pettigrew made a value judgment he had no right to make as a political leader.

Wilkinson made the comments following a keynote address to about 7,000 people at Break Forth Canada, an evangelical Christian conference held at the Shaw Conference Centre this weekend. Wilkinson argued two groups in society -- the family and the church -- must rise up and set standards and hold the government accountable.

"For a government official to state the church has no role in society, I'm surprised that person is in government," he said of Pettigrew.

On Thursday, the federal Liberal minister angered some Christians and other faith groups when he said government and churches should not get involved in each other's affairs.

Wilkinson, the author of several best-selling Christian books, said the world is watching to see whether Canada becomes only the third country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

"Canada is viewed as a world power and the decision it makes should reflect its nobility and its dignity as a country," he told reporters.

Wilkinson warned of negative social consequences if Parliament legalizes same-sex marriage. He pointed to the "massive problems" in many African countries where he said traditional marriage isn't honoured among the people of those countries.

"There are definite consequences, and the issue of how society works and what makes a strong society is always based upon a strong marriage and family, and different people playing different roles within the family.

"Any time a culture breaks down from that model, the society breaks apart."

Many attending the conference shared Wilkinson's concern over Ottawa's plans to redefine marriage.

By mid-morning on Saturday, several hundred had signed a petition by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada calling on Parliament to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

"We haven't given up hope," said Linda Milke, an Ontario director of the EFC as several people waited in line to sign the petition.

The petition is being circulated among the 1,100 evangelical congregations in Canada. The petition will be taken to the House of Commons prior to MPs voting on the highly charged issue.

Among those eager to sign the petition was June Leduc, a member of a local Church of the Nazarene. Leduc said she has endured hostile criticism when she has expressed opposition to same-sex marriage.

"We're supposed to listen to everybody else's opinion, but people don't want to listen to Christians," she said. "We get shut down."