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Screwtape Sounds Off on Same-sex Marriage - by Jon Dykstra

Screwtape Sounds Off on Same-sex Marriage
Letters from a senior demon to an underling.

by Jon Dykstra
Christianity.ca

A December 9, 2004 ruling by Canada's Supreme Court has thrown the issue of same-sex "marriage" back into Parliament's lap. Justice Minister Irwin Cotler has promised to introduce legislation creating gay "marriage" as early as January 2005. Please contact your MP and let them know not just that you disagree with this legislation, but also why.

My dear Wormwood,

Your report included an impressive list of recent accomplishments, but it was a far from complete report, wasn't it? You've had your successes, but not everything went our way these last few weeks, did it? The court was supposed to settle the matter. You assured me it was a certain thing. With all the effort you've focused their way these last few decades how could you let something this big just slip through your grasp? Now the decision goes back to Parliament, and perhaps back to the people. I am disappointed.

It is about Him, but if we can keep His soldiers myopic we may be able to misdirect many of His forces.

This is a significant setback, but one that we may yet be able to use to our advantage. The key is to keep the debate solely about Marriage. Many in the Enemy's camp assume that the main aim of our campaign is to make a mockery of Marriage. They've become near-sighted and have mistaken our means for our end. Don't make the same mistake they have-our goal isn't to tear down Marriage; no, we are only making a mockery of Marriage to tear at Him!

That is what this is ultimately about-yet another skirmish in our ongoing war with the Enemy. It is about Him, but if we can keep His soldiers myopic we may be able to misdirect many of His forces.

In that regard I must congratulate you on the petition you prompted. Yes, I do mean it. You only mentioned it in passing in your report, afraid I think, that your uncle would be angry that you've allowed the Enemy's forces to become stirred up. It would have been better if you could have kept them silent, but that was probably never a possibility with this issue. And if you couldn't suppress them, how clever it was of you to send them running to the wrong ramparts to defend not God, and not even Marriage, but rather Democracy. As you didn't include it in your report I've had to use other resources to track down the petition:

WE THE UNDERSIGNED CITIZENS OF CANADA, draw the attention of the House to the following:

WHEREAS the majority of Canadians believe that fundamental matters of social policy should be decided by elected Members of Parliament and not the un-elected judiciary;

AND WHEREAS the majority of Canadians support the current legal definition of marriage as the voluntary union of a single (that is, unmarried) male and a single (that is, unmarried) female;

AND WHEREAS it is the duty of Parliament to ensure that marriage is defined as Canadians wish it to be defined;

THEREFORE WE, THE UNDERSIGNED petition Parliament to use all possible legislative and administrative measures, including invoking Section 33 of the Charter (the notwithstanding clause) if necessary, to preserve and protect the current definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

It is an admirable effort-written by His soldiers, distributed by still more of His forces, and harboured in His churches, and yet His Name is never mentioned. Indeed, instead of building on their Rock they've set up their defensive position on the shifting sands of the will of "the majority of Canadians." Ha! So many in the Enemy's camp think that Democracy is on their side.

Now even if we lose this skirmish, if Marriage is preserved in the short-term, we have the means in place to guarantee the eventual victory. While He never changes, the will of the "the majority of Canadians" is much more pliable. This is where teamwork comes in-Hollywood's contributions will help us immeasurably; he has promised me at least another season, and possibly two of that same-sex sit-com. (Would that you were as dependable as your cousin!) That may be all we need to sway the majority our way.

Still, a diversion must be found for the Enemy's remaining forces, those not already distracted defending Democracy. He has told them they are His soldiers, and many are eager to fight. Your job is to ensure that if they fight, they fight for anything and anyone except Him. Have them defend Tradition, or send them off to attack Judicial Activism, just keep them distracted. We can win this as long as it never becomes about Him.

This last point is one I cannot overemphasize and the proposal you included in your report was terribly naive in this respect. Yes, if everything goes wrong, and the Enemy's forces rally around Him, we could still succeed in undermining Marriage. But remember, that is not our goal-we are out to undermine Him! Never forget and never stray from this one goal lest the Enemy use the mess we're making of Marriage to further His end. He has already shown an ability to snatch absolute victory from apparent defeat. He has done it before. So now is not a time to celebrate!

Your affectionate uncle,

SCREWTAPE

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