|
|
Post by CMAC on Sept 8, 2003 1:41:51 GMT -5
On Tuesday, September 9, at 12:30 Pacific Daylight Savings Time, I and five other Christian lawyers are meeting with our provincial Attorney General to discuss the issue of the legalization of same-sex marriages. Please say a short prayer for us around that time, for God's guidance and for the Lord to give us what we need to say. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Agape on Sept 8, 2003 4:17:02 GMT -5
I,ve already started to pray and I will contiune to do so until tomorrow night.
May God be with you and the others. I already know God will be with and I know that you are filled with the Holy Spirit so the words will flow from you but I will continue to pray anyway until you no longer need it. Please let us know how everything went.
Blessings brother, Deby
|
|
|
|
Post by flukehouse on Sept 8, 2003 6:44:05 GMT -5
Praying for you... Gods on your side.  Praying... Gods Love, Kelly |
|
|
|
Post by LauraJean on Sept 8, 2003 8:50:04 GMT -5
Wow, what an awesome burden.  I am greatly heartened by the fact that the attorneys participating are Christian. May God grant all of you (lawyers and the A.G.) compkmtyolpion, the strength to uphold His word, to act in loving guidance, and to honor our creator. Please keep us posted on how things go --as much as you legally can! Blessings, LJ P.S., Thanks for the heads-up. I would never have come to this forum had you not mentioned it in the other forums! |
|
|
|
Post by LauraJean on Sept 8, 2003 8:52:53 GMT -5
On a strictly technical point, would any decisions made in BC be binding in the other provinces? Or is it the same as the States, where laws can differ but where unions/contracts/agreements must be recognized outside the state in which they are deemed legal? I'm sure you're quite busy so if you don't answer until the second Tuesday of next week I'll understand! Peace, LJ |
|
|
|
Post by Maranata on Sept 8, 2003 10:28:38 GMT -5
On Tuesday, September 9, at 12:30 Pacific Daylight Savings Time, I and five other Christian lawyers are meeting with our provincial Attorney General to discuss the issue of the legalization of same-sex marriages. Please say a short prayer for us around that time, for God's guidance and for the Lord to give us what we need to say. Thanks. Bother my prayers are with you and just let me quote what Jesus told His Apostels when he send them to preach as it say in Matthew... do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
That the Lord be with you and your group!!! GOD Bless, |
|
|
|
Post by Panther on Sept 8, 2003 11:55:27 GMT -5
Am praying for you brother!
Wow, please keep us updated as you can.
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by outlawgirl3464 on Sept 8, 2003 22:44:23 GMT -5
My prayers are with you Brother.... I hope that all goes according to God's Word and that He gives all of you utterance.
Ephesians 6:18-19
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.
Love to ya Brother,
Your Sister in Christ,
Terri
Modified for spelling....where is the spell checker when you NEED it?
|
|
|
|
Post by CMAC on Sept 9, 2003 0:29:57 GMT -5
On a strictly technical point, would any decisions made in BC be binding in the other provinces? Or is it the same as the States, where laws can differ but where unions/contracts/agreements must be recognized outside the state in which they are deemed legal? I'm sure you're quite busy so if you don't answer until the second Tuesday of next week I'll understand! Peace, LJ Legislation of one Province is not binding on another. Court decisions of the superior courts of the various provinces would not be binding on the other provinces but would be very persuasive (unless the decision dealt with an interProvincial trade and commerce issue at which time it would likely be). Contracts in one jurisdiction can be enforced in another. The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that it is contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of the Canadian constitution to forbid gay/lesbian marriages. The appeal courts of two other provinces, including B.C., had already made that ruling but had stayed the bringing in of legislation provincially (marriage in Canada is in the jurisdiction of the Provinces) until the matter had been appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that changes had to be made immediately, and the other Provinces have therefore essentially decided that they cannot legally delay either, unless the matter is taken to the Supreme Court of Canada, which the Federal government is now trying to keep from happening. Meanwhile, in view of the Ontario Court of Appeal's ruling, the Federal government is drafting legislation to redefine the meaning of the term marriage iin order to ensure that it does not violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (which is Federal constitutional legislation to which the Provinces have been made subject) and has promised a free vote on this in the House of Commons. Many of the ruling (Liberal) party Members of Parliament have let it be known that they are opposing the legislation in a free vote. However, as it is a free vote, if it takes place, then it will not necessarily constitute a vote of non-confidence that would induce the Governor-General to dismiss the government and call an election (oh yes, the Queen, and her absence her representatives the Governor-General and in the Provinces the Lieutenant-Governors, have some real powers, this being one of them). Meanwhile, B.C. has to decide to proceed to introduce legislation immediately to essentially confirm what is already happening here (gay marriages) or hold off until the Parliamentary vote and the possible Supreme Court of Canada appeal. Further, the Provinces, or any of them, could invoke the "not withstanding" clause of the Canadian constitution to keep such legislation from being implemented, and there is a growing interfaith opposition to the proposed legislation. The problem faced is that legalizing gay marriage Provincially is a political decision that is supported by as many as oppose it, and the Judeo-Christian underpinnings of the traditional concept of marriage are getting lost in the secular humanist/postmodernist worldview of today's society today. If that is not clear to you, take heart. You're normal. |
|
|
|
Post by CMAC on Sept 9, 2003 0:39:19 GMT -5
OK everyone. Shift your focus a little. After looking at my daybook this morning I realized, obviously after I had been asked on the weekend to attend with the Attorney-General on Tuesday, that I committed myself months ago to be the presiding lawyer at a pro bono clinic in another city in the area, only on that one day of this month, for two hours that cover the time slot the meeting is to take place. I did not realize that when I was asked to join the rest of the Christian lawyers at that meeting. If I pull out of the clinic there are going to be a lot of people who need urgent help that will go without it.
So I cannot be at the meeting. In fact, your prayers may have produced a desirable result. The other lawyers are much more learned about the scriptures and much more conversant with the law and the issues than I am, and may, frankly, do better without me there. I think I may have been one Christian and lawyer too many.
They will still be meeting at 12:30 Tuesday, with the Attorney-General. Pray for them. I will be. They need it. Thank you so much for your intervention so far. Keep it up.
|
|
|
|
Post by Agape on Sept 9, 2003 5:30:26 GMT -5
We all forget things, guess your just like the rest of us  I will continue to pray for the other lawyers, it sounds like a tough battle their going into. Of course you now owe me free legal advise for allllll that praying I have been doing for you ;D Blessings brother! |
|
|
|
Post by marysia on Sept 9, 2003 7:30:04 GMT -5
my prayers are and will be with you all. may God grant you the wisdon to get through to those people!
God bless and keep you!
|
|
|
|
Post by flukehouse on Sept 9, 2003 8:17:50 GMT -5
Today is Tuesday, I will be praying for you...
Gods Love, Kelly
|
|
|
|
Post by LauraJean on Sept 9, 2003 18:05:40 GMT -5
If that is not clear to you, take heart. You're normal. Actually, it made total sense. You're a good communicator. As far as how provincial court decisions affect courts in other provinces goes, and how provincial laws affect other provinces, you could exchange the word "state" and have a direct correlation here in the US. I'm sure you've heard about the discussion around the "marriage ammendment." Sounds like we're all going through the same "growing" pains. Regarding your schedule conflict, my prayer was always that the Word of God would be upheld. Who was present in the 'upholding' was immaterial. I'm sure many people were blessed and helped by your presence in the pro bono clinic. Peace! LJ |
|
|
|
Post by CMAC on Sept 9, 2003 20:23:57 GMT -5
Actually, it made total sense. You're a good communicator. As far as how provincial court decisions affect courts in other provinces goes, and how provincial laws affect other provinces, you could exchange the word "state" and have a direct correlation here in the US. I'm sure you've heard about the discussion around the "marriage ammendment." Sounds like we're all going through the same "growing" pains. Regarding your schedule conflict, my prayer was always that the Word of God would be upheld. Who was present in the 'upholding' was immaterial. I'm sure many people were blessed and helped by your presence in the pro bono clinic. Peace! LJ Yes, there are some things that are similar in the U.S. system and Canadian system of governments. In 1867 the men who shaped this country into basically what it is today, sat down in Charlottetown, studied the U.S. Federal and Confederate systems and drafted the British North America Act, which was an attempt to strike a balance that would avoid the sort of problems (slavery not being an issue in Canada) that gave rise to the U.S. Civil War. Hence, we ended up with a Confederation. Ever since then the Federal government in Ottawa has been trying to centralize things more under Federal control, and the Provinces have been trying to keep, and even expand the powers and control they have. Sound familiar? I agree with your reliance on the Word. Listening to a talk show today on the radio on the way out to the pro bono clinic, the topic being gay/lesbian marriage, I was not surprised to hear people talk about "upholding moral values" or the "evolution of society" without any reference point or understanding that the values we are "progressing" from are those given to us in the Bible and that the society seems to be advancing to the times back 2,000 years ago wherein just about anything was accepted before Christian values became the bedrock. I was tempted to call up but didn't have time. When I find out on Friday how the meeting with the AG went I will post what I can. |
|
