Editorial Comment: It is about time that our public officials start showing some greater respect for the central figure of the Christian religion. The name of Jesus Christ is sacred to millions of Canadians and revered as synonymous to God as part of the trinity; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Mr. Martin's aunt deserves to be commended for taking the Prime Minister of Canada to task for public blasphemy. Mr. Martin would not dream of blaspheming the name of other religion's sacred figures, which ought to dealt with equally respectful by public figures.

As Christians we call on all elected officials to show respect to the name of God, and to cease and desist from making offensive religious slurs and blasphemous statements.

CCIC Inc.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin apologized on Tuesday for blasphemy during a nationally televised meeting on health care reform -- but only after his aunt told him that his mouth should be washed out with soap.

Martin, sitting at a table with the heads of the country's 10 provinces, could clearly be heard muttering "Jesus Christ!" after a presentation by Manitoba premier Gary Doer.

An embarrassed prime minister opened the second session of the meeting by apologizing profusely, saying he had in fact been reacting to a note passed to him by a member of staff.

"I have two aunts .... and during the break one of my aunts called me and essentially pointed out that I had used inappropriate language and suggested a bar of soap," he said.

"I also want to apologize to anybody who might have taken offense at what I said, I most sincerely do, and I apologize to my aunt," he added, stressing again that he had been commenting on the contents of the note and not to what Doer had said.

To laughter, Doer replied: "Hopefully the note from your federal officials said 'He's right' and that's why you were swearing."