Chris Wattie National Post
Dear Chris When you refer to Tarek Fatah as a "Muslim Leader", is it your example of a sick joke? These handful of radicals, some of them former communists, do not represent Muslims nor do they enjoy any respect whatsoever. They are sought after by the tabloid media for the sensationalism they create, but Muslims have no use for them. Empty vessels make a lot of noise. They are quite vociferous, but there is a saying that the braying of the wild asses is the harshest sound of all. Meer Sahib, Tel: If you wish to write to Chris Wattie, click here: http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/info/contactus/mailto.html?name=Chris+Wattie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tarek Fatah" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 9:26 AM Subject: Same-Sex Marriage debate in Canada: Muslims join Sikhs, Jews, and Christians Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Religion not a barrier, multi-faith group says Harper playing on fears of new voters: Muslim leader Chris Wattie National Post http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=571508d0-ab76-45d9-98ae- 49abec2d3dc7&rfp=dta TORONTO - A multi-faith group that supports same-sex marriage is urging MPs to vote down a Conservative amendment it says would effectively kill a federal bill to enshrine gays' and lesbians' right to marry. A group representing Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Muslim, Quaker and several Christian denominations held a news conference in a downtown Toronto Quaker centre yesterday to show its support for same-sex marriages. "Religious affiliation and religious belief are not a barrier to supporting same-sex marriage," Jane Orion Smith, a Quaker, said "The diversity of opinion about same-sex marriage that exists within Canadian society is also present within many different faith communities in Canada." Ms. Smith said that while religious groups are the most prominent opponents of the Liberal government's Bill C-38, which would enshrine same-sex marriage in law, there are many Church leaders and religious groups that support the bill. Tarek Fatah, of the Muslim Canadian Congress, said that much of the opposition to gay and lesbian unions is based on misinformation about the government's bill and decried a motion by Conservative leader Stephen Harper to have Parliament refuse the bill second reading in the House of Commons as "mixing religion with politics." "Mr. Harper is playing on the fears of new Canadians," he said. "It's an attempt to make inroads into the [Greater Toronto Area] in the next election -- it's reprehensible." Mr. Fatah said ultimately the issue of same-sex marriage is one of human rights, which is why he believes many Muslims support it regardless of how the majority of the country may feel. "Muslims, as a minority, have faced discrimination in the past and they should be standing up for the rights of another marginalized group," he said. MPs are to vote today on the Tory amendment to Bill C-38, which the government introduced after courts in several provinces ruled that gay couples had a right to marry. Mr. Harper told a rally on Saturday attended by thousands of people opposed to same-sex marriage that 95 of 99 Conservative MPs back the traditional concept of marriage and promised a Tory government would bring in legislation defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. "Undermining the traditional definition of marriage is an assault on the beliefs of all cultural and religious communities who have come to this country," the Conservative leader told the crowd gathered on the Parliament Hill lawn in Ottawa. "If just a few more Liberals are persuaded to vote their conscience instead of their party line, we can kill Bill C-38 dead in its tracks." On Sunday, clergy and religious officials from a range of faith groups held rallies in several cities to express support for civil same-sex marriage. The Toronto-based multi-denominational group acknowledged yesterday that there is a split within Churches over the issue, but said that same-sex marriage was no threat to the religious. And despite official admonitions against homosexuality in many religious texts, including the Bible and the Koran, spokesmen for the multi-faith group insisted that there was no conflict between religious belief and support for same-sex marriages. "One of the common messages of all religions is: 'Live and let live,' " said Amanpreet Singh Bal, of the World Sikh Organization. "That is the message that we want to get out." � National Post 2005 Yahoo! Groups Links -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.6 - Release Date: 11/04/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.6 - Release Date: 11/04/2005 ------------------------ Yahoo! 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