Promise Keepers Canada was inspired by its American counterpart, the Promise Keepers, which is publicly supported by many of the leaders of the American Religious Right such as Rev. Jerry Falwell and Dr. James Dobson.[1] Dr. Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family and member of the Council for National Policy, plays a central role in the movement, which treats his Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper as its “manifesto.”[2] Dr. Dobson’s book sets out the context for Promise Keepers Canada’s anti-choice, anti-same sex marriage agenda.
Promise Keepers Canada believes that “[t]he Bible is truthful in all that it affirms and without error as originally given by God.”[3] The organization has mobilized its members to provide grass roots and financial assistance to candidates in line with its philosophy during the 2006 Election, which it sees as “an incredible opportunity to elect a Parliament of conscience” and “curb Canada’s slide into moral decay.”[4]
[1] “Myths and Facts about the Promise Keepers,” National Organization for Women, available at www.now.org/issues/right/promise/mythfact.html (last visited January 13, 2006).
[2] Russ Bellant, “Promise Keepers: Christian Soldiers for Theocracy,” PublicEye.org, available at http://www.publiceye.org/eyes/promkeep.html (last visited January 13, 2006).
[3] “Statement of Faith,” Promise Keepers Canada, available at http://www.promisekeepers.ca/content/statementoffaith (last visited January 13, 2006).
[4] “Article: Each vote will count,” Promise Keepers Canada, December 7, 2005, available at http://www.promisekeepers.ca/content/articles?id=212 (last visited January 13, 2006).