OTTAWA, July 16 (UPI) -- Catholic leaders in Canada warn the church might not baptize the children of same-sex couples if the country legalizes gay marriage as expected next week.
The archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal Marc Oullet, told lawmakers in Ottawa last week the new law would not be compatible with church law, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"If I take the example of the ceremony of baptism," he said, "according to our canon law, we cannot accept the signatures of two fathers or two mothers as parents of an infant."
The legislation, passed last month by Canada's House of Commons, redefines civil marriage as the "lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others" -- not just between a man and a woman. It allows religious officials to refuse to perform marriages "not in accordance" with religious beliefs.
A Canadian Senate committee is expected to recommend Monday that the full Senate approve the legislation.
The church has chastised Catholic politicians in Canada, including Prime Minister Paul Martin, who is Catholic, for supporting the legislation.
Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands allow same-sex marriage.
