By Jody Brown, Fred Jackson, and Stephen Rae
June 19, 2003

(AgapePress) - Christian leaders in both the U.S. and Canada are reacting to this week's proclamation by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien that his nation will legalize same-sex marriages. It is feared that the decision will have devastating consequences upon the institution of marriage in America -- unless the public steps up to the plate to defend traditional unions.

Ken Connor, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, says what is happening north of the border is a warning to America. He says marriage is the "foundational institution of civilization" that "transcends cultures, religions, and nationalities" -- and yet a member of the Canadian Parliament says the 5,000-year-old institution that is the best for raising and nurturing children is being "systematically deconstructed."

"Unless the American people rise up to defend this indispensable institution, we could lose marriage in a very short time," Connor says in a written statement.

Connor notes that his group is battling legislation in California and a bill just introduced by New York Senator Hillary Clinton that would bestow many rights of marriage to same-sex couples. FRC also filed a brief in Lawrence v. Texas, a Supreme Court case concerning the constitutionality of that state's anti-sodomy law -- and a decision on which is expected any day now.

He says what Clinton, Prime Minister Chretien, and the Supreme Court must realize is that any attempt to redefine marriage "merely creates a counterfeit version that devalues the real thing."

"The sanctity of marriage is of utmost importance, and we must fight for its preservation," Connor says.

The head of a national pro-family organization in Mississippi says Christians must bear some of the blame for decisions such as the one in Canada this week to legalize homosexual marriage.

Don Wildmon, founder and chairman of the American Family Association, says decisions such as those of the Canadian government do not happen overnight. They come, he says, as a result of a society -- including the Church -- which refuses to take action when it sees godly values under attack.

"It came because the Church was more interested in inward activities rather than outward activities," Wildmon says, "and it came because we were told we should not mix our religion and politics -- and we bought that line."

Wildmon says he hopes the Canadian decision will prompt Americans to support a bid for an amendment that would enshrine heterosexual marriage into the U.S. Constitution. Last month, his group launched an online petition in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would define marriage as "the union of a man and a woman."

Like Wildmon, pro-family spokesman Gary Bauer is urging Americans to send a strong signal to both the White House and Capitol Hill that the country must pass such a constitutional amendment. While voicing concern for the effect of Canada's decision on America, he points out that the issue of homosexual marriage is currently before the Massachusetts Supreme Court -- and a decision is expected within weeks.

"We have all the makings of a constitutional and societal crisis over the very definition of marriage," Bauer says, "yet most of our political leaders are silent!"

He says the White House must be proactive and speak boldly in defense of traditional marriage.

Meanwhile, Christians in Canada are speaking out against the federal government's decision to move forward with legalizing homosexual marriage. In Ottawa, Pastor Ken Hall is a noted community and national leader among evangelicals. He says this vote is extremely important, considering the long-term effects the results will have on society.

"The ultimate outcome of the government decision will be that in the schools, the curriculum and the teachers will be required to teach and to inculcate attitudes in the students that will make sure that homosexuality is accepted as a normal family lifestyle," the Ottawa-based pastor says. "Therefore, there will be influence brought to bear on our students [and] on our children."

Hall also says for that reason, it is vital that people contact their members of Parliament and express their displeasure with the idea of changing the definition of marriage.