Last edited: January 23, 2005


Same-Sex Difference

Klein separates stance on gay marriage from bishop’s

Edmonton Sun, January 21, 2005

By Jerry Ward, Legislature Bureau

Premier Ralph Klein yesterday separated his government’s opposition to same-sex marriages from controversial comments made by an Alberta Roman Catholic bishop. Bishop Fred Henry recently sent out a letter to his Calgary congregation, arguing that homosexuality needs to be curtailed for the good of all society.

In the letter, he linked homosexuality with adultery, prostitution and pornography as human acts that undermine the foundation of the family, and argued for “the state ... (to) use its coercive power to proscribe or curtail them in the interests of the common good.”

Klein said that as a politician, he would not use those examples to make his point against gay unions, which Ottawa plans to legalize in the coming weeks.

“I don’t believe Bishop Henry’s words that it leads to other things like prostitution, pornography.” the premier said.

“Unfortunately, that exists in a heterosexual environment as well.”

Klein went on to say gays should not be subjected to discrimination, “except when it comes to marriage. I believe that gays and lesbians ought not be discriminated against on the basis of religion, housing—there should be no discrimination.

“Our position is that they ought not to be discriminated against, except when it comes to marriage to enforce the traditional definition of a marriage.”


[Home] [World] [Canada]