We'll have a gay 'ole time

Here we are again with the same-sex marriage debate on the agenda of the religious right. I've been reading websites of those who want to defend traditional Christian values to prevent the erosion of societal values and norms. In other words, the sky is falling, the sky is falling. For crying out loud, they were having a "gay 'ole time" in bedrock and it hasn't destroyed our society yet.

It's not that I'm against a definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. It's just that I think before we start spending all of our limited time and resources on fighting this we ought to look at the bigger fish we need to fry. Here's some stats from statscan and recent newspaper headlines and reports. First, from statscan...Only 44% of families in Canada are married (number includes common-law and traditional marriage). Of those, half will divorce within 3 years. Same-sex couples represent .5% of our country of those who are married. Give it 3 years and that number will actually be about .25% or 1/4 of 1% of married couples in our country who are same-sex.

I don't think this is a hugely influential group who's actions or desires to tie the knot will tear down the moral fabric of Canada, but we're quick to jump on the gay bashing bandwagon. Here's a bigger fish. Tackle those who are divorcing in our congregations. There's a significant number, but I'm leaving that alone.

Here's bigger stats we could focus on:
17.7% of children in Canada live in poverty. Have you heard an evangelical outcry on this number? Have we signed petitions and lobbied our government to do something about this? 49% of children who immigrated to Canada between 1996-2001 live in poverty. How about this number...Approximately 2% of our population is Native, but our prison is pushing close to 18% native representation. When we were living in BC a local paper used to print mugshots on Friday to protect our citizens. The problem was, 100% of the faces were native. Didn't we have any white criminals? Now, does the fact that someone doesn't show up to court for a shoplifting charge, and subsequently has their face in the paper really keep me safe. Who gives a rip? I knew of a local business owner who had been picked up 3 times in less than 6 months for drinking and driving, and I never even heard it in the paper. His lilly white faced never graced the pages either. That I needed to know so I could steer clear of his truck on a Friday night. A final number for our first nations brothers and sisters...40% of first nations children live in poverty.

NOW we're talking about numbers the church can sink it's teeth into, but we still choose to hammer homosexuals, all the time chanting "hate the sin...love the sinner". I'm sorry, but we need to take on the bigger issues of society before we go after this one. Once we've solved some of these issues then let's talk about same-sex marriage.

Solve child poverty and I'll be the first to yell Yabba Dabba Doo.

peace out,
rZ