Saskatoon, Canada, Nov 7, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The seventh of 13 Canadian jurisdictions legalized same-sex marriage Nov. 5. A Saskatchewan court ruled that the traditional definition of marriage, as the union of one man and one woman, is unconstitutional.
In a five-page ruling, Justice Donna Wilson sided with courts in five other provinces and one territory, saying existing marriage laws discriminate against homosexual couples. The provincial and federal governments did not contest the court challenge.
Archbishop Albert LeGatt of Saskatoon told the Canadian Press that he was disappointed by the court decision. "I regret the decision of the court here, as I regret the decisions of the courts of other provinces," he was quoted as saying.
"Though the courts may have established a certain ruling, we hold on to our faith and our belief of what marriage is," he added.