Grant Hill, leader in Canada's Conservative Party

Family-friendly organizations and individuals from Canada, including Conservative Party leader Grant Hill, have joined in a campaign to apologize to the world for allowing homosexual marriage to gain a foothold on society.

In a letter released to "the world's leaders and people," the initiative is described as the work of United Families Canada, but many other individuals and groups also are joining, with developing plans to publicize the apology at the World Congress of Families IV in Warsaw, Poland, in May.

To the world's leaders and people,

We, the people of Canada who support marriage solely as the union of a man and a woman, apologize to the people of the world for harm done through Canada's legalization of homosexual marriage.

We are grieved and troubled as we consider the impact this is having in weakening the fundamental institution of marriage in countries and cultures around the world. We understand that because Canada does not impose citizenship or residency requirements in order for same-sex individuals to be 'married' here, couples are coming to Canada to seek legal sanction for their homosexual relationships with the intent of returning to their own countries to challenge those countries' legal definition of marriage.

Other groups joining so far include the Canada Family Action Coalition, REAL Women of Canada, British Columbia Parents and Teachers for Life, Alberta REAL Women, Christian Heritage Party of Canada, Third Watch Ministries, MY Canada Association.

"Based on my experience serving in Parliament," Hill wrote in an endorsement of the plan, "I can assure you that something like this apology can be very valuable for an elected official in another country trying to defend marriage. It can be used to help focus attention on the real issues in the debate and on what is truly at stake."

Brian Rushfeldt, executive director for Canada Family Action Coalition, or CFAC, agrees.

"In today's global village it has become apparent that certain people will use or misuse one country's legislation for their own purpose in another country," he said. "This is not acceptable."

CFAC President Charles McVety asserted redefining marriage has "devalued" marriages that were in place before Canada's legislation took effect.

"And it has now created a platform for activists from other countries to challenge their own laws," he said.

Oregon voters also voted for the one-man-one-woman definition. But now their elected representatives are considering a "civil unions" plan as well as a proposal to give homosexuals special rights as a protected minority. They must look north for the reason, the organizations are saying.

And to Massachusetts residents, whose former governer installed "same-sex marriages" by executive order, "blame us," the Canadian apology confirms.

"We understand that Canada is seen by people around the world as a country in which public policy is developed carefully and judiciously. It would, therefore, be a natural assumption that in legalizing homosexual marriage our government and courts thoroughly considered the implications of this action through proper and extensive study of social sciences and facts," the apology continues.

"But it is essential that the people of the world understand that this was not the case. Our government and courts only considered adult 'rights.' Among other things, the impact on children's rights, children's education, parental rights, religious rights, adoption, the economy and family law were never fully considered. Changes were thrust upon us by court actions followed by a vote that did not allow for a free vote of every member of our federal parliament.

"Our warning to you, the people of the world, is to learn from our mistakes and avoid repeating them in your own countries. Forewarned should be forearmed," the statement finished.

Rushfeldt said the marriage law has "laid a foundation to force educators to 'indoctrinate' children with false notions, to undermine most parents teaching on marriage, and to allow activists into schools to promote their own agendas."

"Long-term results, will in our opinion, undermine the very essence of healthy sexual relations, strong family units, and common social good for the nation," he said.

Homosexual "marriage" was legalized starting in Canada in 2003, when an appeals court ruled the nation's traditional definition of matrimony was discriminatory. Government leaders then chose to institutionalize the "union," rather than fight it further in court.

At that time, no U.S. state recognized homosexual "marriage," although Vermont allowed "civil unions." Since then, Massachusetts took formal administrative action to allow such "marriages," and plans have been proposed in several other states.

In yet other states, voters have formalized constitutional amendments that define marriage as between one man and one woman. At the latest count, such a vote had been proposed in 28 states and adopted in 27.

A statement from United Families Canada explained the movement.

"We Canadians have a unique opportunity to support marriage and the family around the world even as we work to restore marriage here at home," the group said. "This apology is necessary because of the impact our acceptance of same-sex marriage is having on other countries.

"It is essential that all of us who are pro-family and pro-marriage continue to oppose the action of the last government to legalize same-sex marriage in our country," said United Families Canada. "We know that this action was taken in a completely irresponsible way. The government ignored and suppressed the overwhelming social science data and historical experience that demonstrates conclusively that legalizing same-sex marriage will have many negative consequences for our nation and for our society."

Canada's legalization followed similar action in Belgium and the Netherlands, but the Canadians say their nation's reputation for "careful and judicious" policy-making lends it more influence. Secondly, the absence of residency requirements "means that same-sex couples are coming to Canada to be married and then returning home."

That has already happened in Israel and Ireland, the groups said.

"The simple and disturbing fact is that our Canadian same-sex marriage law is undermining the institution of marriage in many other countries around the world besides here in Canada. We certainly owe the people of the world an apology for that!" said United Families Canada.

C. Gwendolyn Landolt, national vice president for REAL Women of Canada, told WND 55 percent of the same-sex marriages performed in British Columbia involved visitors to Canada.

She contends the change was manipulated through Parliament, without ever having a democratic vote, and its impacts never were considered.

Under the Canadian law, homosexual marriage now is presented in schools as the equivalent of heterosexual marriage, and there have been huge complications for faith-based groups providing social services, such as requiring religious nursing homes to admit same-sex couples.

Faith-based adoption services also are forced to place vulnerable children in same-sex situations, she said. And provincial courts have created a quagmire for parental rights, already ruling that both lesbian partners as well as the sperm donor are legal parents to a child.

"Why not five parents? Why not 10," she asked. "There are endless complications."

END