"An evil act remains an evil act whether it is performed in public or in private". This is according to a pastoral letter distributed last week by Canadian Catholic Bishop Fred Henry. Furthermore, not only does he invite the Canadian government into the bedrooms of its citizens, but he also urges it to use parliamentary ‘coercive powers' to ‘proscribe or curtail' homosexuality because it can be equated with pornography and prostitution. This is the same bishop who in 2003, warned Catholic politicians that they might not get into heaven if they supported equality for lesbian and gay relationships. The Prime Minister Paul Martin, a Catholic, has been urged by Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic the Cardinal of Toronto, to block gay marriage because he believes it will ''alter social structures like marriage and the family''. Bishop Fred Henry's letter represents a strategic move, coming at a time when the Canadian Government is about to vote on extending equality of rights in terms of marriage and civil ceremonies to the gay and lesbian community. This is an historic moment for Canada, because potentially it may become only the sixth country in the world to legalise gay marriage. If you believe that individuals should not be denied equal rights nor be discriminated against on the grounds of their sexuality, then Canada needs your support for this historic vote. If the Canadian government votes in favour of gay marriage, then other countries will be forced to vote on the equalisation of marriage. Your views and comments can be forwarded to Challenge the Church, a Toronto based group, which supports Human Rights and Equality. email: challengethechurch@gmail.com Helen Kennedy - 25th January 2005