Piccoli Fiori JMJ Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 Sept. 14, 2004 - Catholic Online - A Canadian court has approved what a lawyer claimed was the world’s first same-sex divorce after a judge ruled that the definition of spouses in the Divorce Act is unconstitutional. The lesbian couple – identified in court documents only as JH and MM. – had been together for almost 10 years when they married in June 2003, shortly after the Ontario Court of Appeal legalised same-sex marriages. They separated just five days later. Superior Court Justice Ruth Mesbur struck down the section of the Divorce Act that said only spouses – defined as a man and woman – can divorce. “The definition of a spouse is unconstitutional, inoperative and of no force and effect,” she said. Lawyer Martha McCarthy, who represented one of the women, said the ruling is historic. “We believe that this is not just the first gay or lesbian divorce in Canada, but actually the first gay or lesbian divorce in the world,” she said outside court. “It’s an important step when we talk about the legal landscape as it exists at the moment.” In July, less than 24 hours after the couple’s divorce petition was publicised, the federal Justice Department conceded that excluding gays and lesbians from the definition of spouse in the Divorce Act would prohibit them from divorcing and was therefore unconstitutional. “It would be absurd to say it’s legal to get married, but not divorced,” McCarthy said. “As usual, though, the federal government’s approach to all things involving same sex issues is, ‘If we can obfuscate and delay, we will.”’ McCarthy said the couple realised their marriage was a mistake and there was no reasonable possibility of reconciliation. [b]“They ironically believed marriage would solve their problems,” she said. [/b] (Emphasis by me!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 so not surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thy Geekdom Come Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 Apparently, nothing good [i]or evil[/i] lasts anymore... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 Lol. Anti-Gay campaigners are gonna start abusing this one example, to try and work against the whole now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 It was bound to happen someplace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thy Geekdom Come Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 [quote name='MorphRC' date='Sep 14 2004, 12:01 PM'] Lol. Anti-Gay campaigners are gonna start abusing this one example, to try and work against the whole now. [/quote] Anti-gay? I assume you mean pro-family? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 [quote name='Raphael' date='Sep 15 2004, 02:42 AM'] Anti-gay? I assume you mean pro-family? [/quote] If you wanna split hairs, try your scalp. :ph34r: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piccoli Fiori JMJ Posted September 14, 2004 Author Share Posted September 14, 2004 what was that about Morph? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 Just Micah being a smart alec.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 [quote name='MorphRC' date='Sep 14 2004, 11:01 AM'] Lol. Anti-Gay campaigners are gonna start abusing this one example, to try and work against the whole now. [/quote] Uh-huh. And opposing abortion is "anti-choice" too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 Nah... Its called Pro-Choice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetarplayer Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 :deformed: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azaelia Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 <<< Not surprised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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