If there is anyone who objects to this marriage, let him speak now or forever hold his peace....

No? Are you sure? Oh, we have one maybe. Anyone else?

Whether Paul Martin has found the backbone to keep Parliament in session and pass Bill C-38, the same-sex marriage legislation that is as inevitable as death, taxes, and an ill-timed case of Conservative foot-in-mouth disease, should hopefully and finally be clear as you read this, though with our indecisive Prime Minister, the odds are still good he'll be busy flipping coins and reading tarot cards over the question until next winter. For while eager to keep the current session going and pass a budget amendment with more spending promises than Tom Cruise has marriage proposals, Martin has, so far, seemed willing to let legislation that would make a true, progressive statement about equality and tolerance in this country be left unconsummated.

Only last week, neither Martin, House Leader Tony Valeri, nor anyone with a Liberal Party lapel pin could give a firm answer on whether they would be willing to put off their summer rounds of jet skiing and hamburger flipping to actually get something done after a year of wasting time, money, patience, and promises doing little more than keeping their collective head above water. Acting more like anxious school children waiting for summer break than highly paid public servants charged with actually running the country, they've seemed reluctant to commit to something that at various times has been characterized as a human rights issue, a fundamental Charter issue, and an issue of equality.

Surely that trumps playing twister with the kids at the cottage.

So, why the cold feet? In terms of sheer voting numbers, the Liberals have more than enough support to pass not only Bill C-38, but C-48, the NDP-inspired budget amendment that is to careful fiscal management what Imelda Marcos is to thrift. This assumes, of course, that certain Liberal backbenchers who are terror-stricken that same-sex marriage will lead to the destruction of civilized life as we know it do not bring down the government on the all-important and confidence-deciding budget vote. None other than Pat O'Brien, disgruntled former Liberal and diehard traditional marriage crusader who seems oblivious to the hypocrisy involved in one man bringing down a government over a marriage issue that he suggests is being dealt with in an undemocratic fashion, has hinted at such, though most think it unlikely.

If nothing else, it is finally sinking in, at least amongst recalcitrant Liberals, that this is a fight they will lose; better to get it out of the way, off the table, and move on before it fractures the party any further.

Whether the Conservatives are of like mind at this stage is somewhat irrelevant. They don't have either the numbers or the public support, and their dogmatic repudiation of gay marriage has killed whatever opportunity they might have had to woo the socially moderate mainstream in this country, and any chance Stephen Harper had of moving out of Stornoway (short of being dropped as leader, which is looking more and more likely these days for the optics-challenged chief).

But despite all this, and having even gone the extra mile on Monday to threaten extending the session indefinitely, Martin has not (as of this writing) said conclusively and definitively that he will bring the same-sex marriage legislation to a vote, forcing even the Bloc to demand such assurances as the price of their agreement for extending proceedings beyond Thursday. It should be an absolute no-brainer to get this legislation passed. Yet, like so many other moments during Paul Martin's tenure, when it comes time to follow through, he hedges; when it comes time for action, he hesitates; when it comes time to do, he hides.

Once again, another opportunity to step up, make a statement, and do something that is incredibly rare on Parliament Hill these days, namely to display true leadership, has passed the man by. It is a fitting conclusion to an embarrassing session of Parliament, regardless of when it finally ends.

I have only one question: how did Sheila ever get him to finally say "I do?"