Christians rally for God and country

By JEFF GRAHAM

On a rainy Sunday May 15, Christians from across Vancouver rallied for marriage, for Canada, and for God.

About 2,000 faithful gathered at the Vancouver Art Gallery to protest the proposed redefinition of marriage by the Canadian government. The rally featured speeches from several Christian pastors as well as prayer and praise and worship music.

The event was sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, the Filipino Ministerial Fellowship of B.C., the Vancouver Chinese Evangelical Ministerial Fellowship, the Hope-Vancouver Pastors Group, and the Surrey Pastors Network.

The event started with music, followed by an opening address. “Marriage deserves to be handed on to future generations,” Pastor Jun Torres of Living Hope Christian Church told the crowd. “Why tamper with it?”

After the address by Torres, Michele Smillie of the Office of Life and Family of the Archdiocese of Vancouver read the Pastoral Letter by Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, on the re-definition of marriage. In it he outlined how recognition of same-sex couples as married may prove to be harmful to families and society.

The letter explained, “The state certainly has the power to authorize social benefits for any of its citizens, without redefining marriage,” and goes on to say how those with same-sex attraction are worthy of dignity and respect. After the letter was read, one of the men in the crowd cried out, “Way to go, Raymond!”

Matthew Paone, a UBC student and parishioner of Holy Cross Parish, said, “I’m here to support traditional marriage and pray for God’s intercession. I’m also here to show support to all of our Christian brothers and sisters.”

“I’m here to stand for the sanctity of marriage as a union of one man and woman,” Gary Donison, a parishioner of Glad Tidings Christian Fellowship, told The B.C. Catholic. “I woke up to see that the sanctity of marriage is severely threatened.”

David Forrest, who attends the same church as Donison, was impressed how Christians of different denominations have come together on the issue. “This is what brings us together, this is fabulous,” he said.

When asked about her motives for being at the rally, Colleen Stevenson, a teacher at St. James Elementary in Abbotsford, said, “Marriage is the foundation of society; without the foundation the house will fall.” Her sister Carol, standing nearby, chimed in, “Yeah what she said!”

The rally ended with a Benediction by Ed Hird, pastor of St. Simon’s Anglican Church. He pointed out to the crowd that God was likely pleased with their efforts and quoted Luke 19:17: “Well done, good and faithful servants.”