Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jan 2006
Source: Brandon Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2006, Brandon Sun
Contact:  http://www.brandonsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2437
Author: Carol Sanders
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

CHURCH LEADERS OFFER PRAYERS FOR HARPER AND NEW CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT

Christian church leaders meeting in Winnipeg yesterday bowed their 
heads for victorious Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.

"We said a prayer for the incoming prime minister and his 
government," said Winston Smith, chairman of this fall's Central 
Canada Franklin Graham Festival in Winnipeg. Tens of thousands of 
people are expected to attend the non-denominational festival Oct. 
20-22 with the son of world-famous evangelist and spiritual leader 
Rev. Billy Graham.

Close to 100 Christian church leaders from in and around Winnipeg met 
yesterday morning to prepare for the event.

Monday night's election win propelled to power the Conservatives, 
some of whom have come out against gay marriage and other issues 
Christian evangelicals have opposed.

"We said a prayer to really thank God for entering the hearts and 
minds of voters so they would exercise their right to vote," Smith said.

Other faith-based groups shouted hallelujah at the Conservative win.

"(Monday's election) was a great victory for marriage as dozens of 
the 162 members of Parliament who voted to redefine marriage, are no 
longer in Parliament," said Charles McVety, president of Canada 
Family Action Coalition in Toronto. "The people of Canada have 
rejected the extremism of redefining marriage, and the plans to 
legalize prostitution, marijuana and euthanasia," the coalition leader said.

"This election has demonstrated the resolve of mainstream Canadians 
to respond to the attacks and not allow extremists to take over the 
country," McVety said.

The election of Harper's minority government isn't a rejection of 
Liberal corruption in the wake of the sponsorship scandal, but a 
condemnation of its moral fibre, according to the Institute for 
Canadian Values.

"(Prime Minister Paul) Martin's values are embodied in a record that 
has, as its highlights, legislation to change the definition of 
marriage, decriminalize marijuana," said Joseph Ben-Ami in Ottawa, 
executive director of the Judeo-Christian based institute. "... 
Canadians repudiated this radical agenda, opting instead for the 
sensible, mainstream middle-class values that have been the 
cornerstone of Canadian society for generations.
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