Toronto keeps Lord’s Prayer in rotation with other faiths TORONTO (RNS) After four months of controversy over the roles of religion and the state, the government of Ontario has compromised by keeping the Lord’s Prayer in the provincial legislature _ and adding invocations from other faiths. Members of the legislature voted unanimously to retain the daily opening recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, but starting Monday (June 16), the prayer was joined in rotation with eight new prayers from other faiths, and a moment of silence to appease non-believers. Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Sikh, First Nations (indigenous) and non-denominational prayers will alternate, along with a moment of silent reflection. The move follows Premier Dalton McGuinty’s announcement in February that the province would “move beyond” the Lord’s Prayer in favor of “a more inclusive approach” that “better reflects Ontario’s reality and celebrate(s) our diversity.” More than 25,000 Ontarians wrote the premier with letters, e-mails and petitions; about 90 percent were opposed to the change. Many cited a need to keep the province’s Christian heritage intact. The opposition Progressive Conservatives called the vote to keep the prayer a “slap in the face” to the premier for opening a “Pandora’s box” on a sensitive subject. In 1999, Ontario’s top court ruled that opening municipal council meetings with the Lord’s Prayer was unconstitutional because it “imposed a Christian moral tone” on public proceedings. In 1988, the top court cited Ontario’s multicultural makeup and struck down a regulation requiring public schools to begin their days with the prayer. _ Ron Csillag Jewish women are first Calif. couple married in religious ceremony BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (RNS) Two Jewish lesbians on Monday (June 16) became the first same-sex couple to hold a religious, legally recognized wedding ceremony in California, tying the knot within half an hour after the state Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage took effect. By 5:24 p.m., Diane Olson and Robin Tyler had obtained a marriage license from a county clerk and were married on the steps of the Los Angeles County Courthouse by a rabbi under a traditional Jewish chuppah. “I now pronounce you spouses for life,” said Rabbi Denise Eger of Congregation Kol Ami in Los Angeles, a predominantly gay and lesbian Reform congregation. The ceremony was carried live on local TV newscasts. About half a dozen loud anti-gay protesters held tall banners aloft within 10 feet of the chuppah. Their shouting died down when Beverly Hills police told them that drowning out the service would constitute disturbing the peace and make them subject to arrest. Olson and Tyler were two of the four lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit that prompted the state Supreme Court to throw out all state bans on same-sex marriage. California’s county clerks began issuing civil marriage licenses at 5 p.m. on Monday when the court ruling formally took effect. The Jewish nuptials competed for media attention with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom performing a civil marriage service for an elderly lesbian couple originally married by him in 2004 when he issued short-lived marriage licenses for same-sex couples. When Tyler and Olson and their attorney Gloria Allred purchased the marriage license at the Beverly Hills courthouse, they apparently were $5 short of the required fee. With the license paid for just after 5 p.m., the couple walked out onto the court steps and waved the document to a cheering throng. “We give thanks to the Supreme Court of California for their courage,” said Rabbi Eger. After the wedding, Tyler yelled to the crowd, “I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Diane Olson!” Rabbi Lisa Edwards, of the Reform synagogue Beth Chayim Chadashim in Los Angeles, said her largely gay congregation has 26 same-sex marriage services planned between now and November. Edwards said she already has married most of the couples in Reform rites, but they are returning to the synagogue so that “now we’ll make them civil ceremonies.” _ David Finnigan Sikh man says not having the `Disney look’ cost him job (RNS) A national Sikh group is suing the Walt Disney Co. for $1 million on behalf of a Sikh man who claimed he was fired for not having the “Disney look” because of his turban and beard. Sukhbir Channa was a trumpet player for a Christmas program at Walt Disney World in Florida during the 2005-2006 holiday season but says he was let go for “not having the appropriate look,” according to a suit filed by the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF). Channa said he had an agreement with Disney that allowed him to wear his turban instead of the red beret that was part of his uniform. He also worked wearing character costumes, including a toy soldier, that covered his head. But his supervisor, Larry Hendrickson, concluded that the beard and turban were not part of the “Disney look” and reassigned Channa to other jobs where he did not interact with park visitors, the suit says. When Channa reapplied to work the 2006-2007 holiday season, Hendrickson again mentioned “the look problem” and declined to hire him again, according to the suit. Channa’s lawyers say that move violates the Florida Civil Rights Act. “Disney’s position is fundamentally un-American because it forces Sikhs, and also observant Jews and Muslims, to choose between their faith and their career,” SALDEF Chairman Manjit Singh said. “It is also hypocritical for Disney to make millions of dollars using and vilifying cartoon characters that wear turbans and simultaneously reject the right of an American to wear a turban in accordance with his faith.” Jacquee Polak, a Disney spokeswoman, disputed that Channa ever “sought reemployment for the 2006 holiday season. His claim that he did was without merit.” “We value and respect diversity with our cast members and treat each request of this nature individually,” Polak said. _ Ashly McGlone Religious groups challenge N.Y. governor on gay marriages (RNS) As California begins allowing same-sex marriages, several religious groups are mounting a challenge to a decision by New York Gov. David Paterson to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. “We think it’s a destructive development for society,�� said Dennis Poust, a spokesman for the New York State Catholic Conference. The group released a statement from New York’s eight Roman Catholic bishops criticizing Paterson�s directive that state agencies recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. “Recognizing same-sex unions will only serve to devalue marriage even more than what has already occurred in recent years,” the Catholic bishops said in their statement. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a lobbying organization of evangelical churches, is party to a suit filed by the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund attempting to block Paterson’s directive. “We’re concerned about its effects on our culture,” said the Rev. Duane Motley, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms. Both lobbying groups said they support amending the federal Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. They also say same-sex marriage damages society by harming families. Since last week, at least 3,300 people on the Catholic conference’s e-mail list have sent letters to Paterson criticizing his position on same-sex marriage, Poust said. On Monday (June 16), the Alliance Defense Fund filed opening briefs in a New York appellate court challenging Paterson’s directive. “Be redefining `spouse’ to include same-sex partners wed outside of New York, officials are illegally undermining this public policy and replacing it with the marriage laws of foreign countries, to which the people of New York have not consented,” ADF senior legal counsel Brian Raum said. Bonnie Strunk, a Syracuse lawyer and gay activist, said she hopes the recent developments will add momentum to the legalization of gay marriage in New York. “I think it’s a major step forward because it (California) is a large state and because there is no residency requirement,” she said. In 2006, New York�s top court ruled that there is no state constitutional right to gay marriage. A bill to allow gay marriage has passed the state Senate but has stalled in the state Assembly. _ Renee K. Gadoua Quote of the Day: The Rev. Michael Pfleger of Chicago (RNS) “I want to say one thing today. The (Chicago) Tribune asked: Can you be Catholic and an activist? I say, absolutely. Absolutely. You cannot be a Catholic and not be an activist. That’s the gospel.” _ The Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Chicago priest, after returning to work Monday at St. Sabina Catholic Church following his suspension for mocking Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. He was quoted by the Chicago Tribune. KRE/RB END RNS