Australian archbishop: New marriage law must include conscience clauses
After a majority of Australians indicated they favoured same-sex marriage, Australia’s bishops said legislators must ensure that any new law on marriage includes protection for religious freedom.
Nearly 80 per cent of Australians mailed back their government postal surveys on the issue. Of the 12.7 million Australians who participated, nearly 62 per cent said they favoured same-sex marriage, and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he hoped to have marriage equality legislation passed by Christmas.
In a statement on 15th November, the day the survey results were announced, Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said members of Parliament “must recognise and respect the concerns of the more than 4.8 million Australians who opposed a change to the definition of marriage.” He called for Parliament to include “strong conscience and religious freedom protections.”
“The Catholic Church continues to respect the dignity of LGBTIQ Australians, and our ministries will continue to care deeply about the dignity and value of all people we encounter,” Archbishop Hart said.
Picture: Supporters of the ‘Yes’ vote for marriage equality celebrate on 15th November in Sydney. After a majority of Australians indicated they favoured same-sex marriage, Australia’s bishops said legislators must ensure that any new law on marriage include protection for religious freedom. (CNS photo/David Gray, Reuters).
Tags: Archbishop Denis Hart, Archbishop Hart, Australia, Melbourne, same sex