Debate in Parliament was well covered by the media this week as second reading of C-38 got underway.

I mentioned February 4th that both the US and Canadian branches of an evangelical group were lobbying.
Now, the Knights of Columbus in New Haven announced they printed up 2 million postcards to be distributed to Canadian Catholic parishioners.

Last week, Patrick Korten, a spokesman for the Knights, told a Canadian news service that his group had paid $80,782 to print 2 million anti-gay marriage postcards, being distributed in Catholic churches across Canada. Korten, a former spokesman for President Reagan’s attorney general Edwin Meese, didn’t return my calls last week, but this is what he told the Canadian papers: “Whatever it takes…. The family is too important.” And so far, the postcards have “been extremely enthusistically received in Catholic parishes all over Canada.” Focus on the Family, the evangelical Christian group, has also lent money and people power to its Canadian sister organization to lobby against the bill.

Why?
The Canadian Catholic leadership has said what it wishes to say about this bill; any Canadian that wants to let their MP know their viewpoint is free to do so.
The ‘enthusiastically received line’ has about as much credence as the hype from the evangelical group. Have US religious groups been funnelling funds to lobby provinces that perform same-sex marriages?
How about helping out provincial commissioners who aren’t protected by religion who resign rather than to act against conscience?

Are the postcards from our New Haven friends in both official languages?
They’ll need to be.
Polls indicate Canadians are about 42% in favour of the bill with about 40% opposed (more to the definition than rights) The highest level for support of C-38 is 52% in Quebec.

Who are US religious groups really throwing money at, and why?
I’m all for people sharing their beliefs, and I think people of faith can do a great deal in aiding those under persecution, or even starting to dialogue so we can understand each other. So New Haven Knight’s, thank you for your opinion.

But postcards to Canada?
Many parishes in Northern Quebec don’t speak or write english. New Brunswick is also a province that requires the use of both languages. This is a ridiculous and sorry waste of money and could back fire - not unlike the Focus on the Family generated emails. Did you at least hire a Canadian printing company?

To my Canadian Catholic friends that may be handed a post card from the US group after Mass - at least recycle eh?

Sidenote: A Niagra Falls Casino has opened a chapel. Part of this decision is because US tourism has dropped from 55% percent to 40% since September 2001.
Of the 1,182 marriage licences issued last year in the City of Niagra Falls Canada, 169 went to gay couples, 163 of them American.
source Globe and Mail