Toronto, Canada, Oct 20, 2003 / 22:00 pm
The Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops has joined other Evangelical and Catholic groups in proclaiming Feb. 8-15 national marriage week. The event will be organized under the theme "Marriage on the Rock."
Marriage has been a hot topic in Canada since the debate to legalize same-sex marriage began early this year. In a vote in Parliament last month, the majority of Canada's federally elected politicians demonstrated that they are in favor of redefining marriage to include same-sex unions. In fact, the government had already drafted a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in July and sent it to the Supreme Court of Canada for judicial review.
"Biblical marriage is important to us all - singles, couples, children, families, communities and society as a whole," reads the joint release, issued by a number of collaborating organizations, including the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, the Ontario bishops, Focus on the Family and The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.
"Marriage on the Rock" will be a week for congregations to highlight the contribution of marriage to the common good of society and to uphold and affirm biblical marriage in their communities.