The federal government will not water down legislation allowing same-sex marriage, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien insisted Tuesday, admitting that he is praying for his soul but has to act on behalf of all Canadians.
"We want to legalize the union of homosexuals," he said after a meeting of his cabinet, which has shown signs of the dissent reflected in the wider Liberal caucus.
He said that he has heard accusations from Roman Catholic leaders that he risks eternal damnation but feels that the division between church and state is necessary and that he must act in the best interests of all Canadians, not just his fellow Catholics.
"I've been attacked by many people in my life — it will not be the first time," he said. "I'm a Catholic, and I'm praying. But I am the Prime Minister of Canada. When I'm Prime Minister of Canada, I'm acting as the person responsible for the nation, and the problem of my religion I deal with."
Mr. Chrétien acknowledged Tuesday that his government had been forced to act quickly by the Ontario court ruling that exclusion of homosexuals from marriage is unconstitutional.
"We were faced with an emergency, and we dealt with it that way," he said. The government reacted to the court ruling by composing draft legislation and referring it to the Supreme Court for advice on its constitutionality.
Mr. Chrétien moved to squash speculation that his cabinet would also offer the Supreme Court a softer version of the legislation, apparently in hopes that the court would reject it and that the government could then present full marriage rights of homosexuals as the only possible option.
"[The existing reference] is the policy of the government, and it will be a free vote," he told reporters.
But in a nod to the vociferous criticism from some religious groups, he said that churches need not fear a dilution of their beliefs.
"We will not force any religion to recognize [same-sex marriage]. The question of religion is respected, this is a question of civil union."
