TORONTO (AFP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin is staring down a backlash over his plans to legalise gay marriage, as Roman Catholics, Sikhs and his domestic political foes mobilise to thwart him.As Martin toured tsunami disaster areas and sought trade deals on a five-nation tour of Asia, a promised drive against his bid to make Canada the third country to sanction same-sex marriage kicked into gear.The Roman Catholic archbishop of Toronto, who represents more than a million believers here, warned Martin, himself a Catholic, that his plan would trigger serious, and unpredictable shocks to society."The conjugal partnership of a man and woman is the beginning and basis of human society," Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic wrote in an open letter to Martin Wednesday."Tampering with marriage and family poses significant social risks."
