Re: ‘Sanctity of marriage must be protected,' Aug. 25 Gazette:
I wondered if possibly Richard Nobert has been asleep for the last couple of decades, so I thought I would bring him up to speed on some developments that have occurred.
1. Since 1995 same-sex couples have had the right to adopt in Canada (yes, even in Alberta). This was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in 1999. Many couples have taken advantage of this for the last 15 years.
2. Your definition of marriage is not Canada's definition of marriage. Since 2005 marriage is the union of two people regardless of their sexual orientation.
3. Our charter of rights guarantees freedom of religion. While your interpretation of the God you believe in doesn't permit same sex marriage, many other churches do embrace same-sex couples and marry them — even in a Christian ceremony. Our freedom of religion not only allows everyone to chose to worship God in whatever religious experience, it also allows us to express not to believe in any God at all.
When I read Mr. Nobert's letter the feeling it invoked was that he thought that everyone should naturally think and feel as he does. Fortunately, we do not live in a dictatorship or a religious theocracy. Go Canada!
Neil Chamney, St. Albert
