EDMONTON -- A coalition of religious groups and a backbencher who wants to become Alberta premier appeared together yesterday to urge the federal government to consider the needs of children in any same-sex marriage debate.

Ted Morton, one of nine contenders to replace Ralph Klein as Alberta's Conservative party leader and premier, said the federal Tories should set up a parliamentary committee to study the impact that same-sex marriage has on children.

"The evidence is absolutely overwhelming that same-sex marriage is not a basic human right, but rather it's a social experiment," said Morton, who was a featured speaker at a news conference put on by the Edmonton Faith Coalition for Natural Marriage.

The coalition said it's a duty of Canada's elected officials and policy-makers to become informed and consider the wisdom of other democratic states.

Murray Billett, a gay activist in Edmonton, said the coalition's arguments will increase social division over an issue that has already been settled.

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