Changing the Marriage Act could change the country
“Before Australians start voting in the same-sex marriage postal plebiscite next month — assuming the High Court allows it to proceed — the Turnbull government has a vast amount of work to do. It must detail how it would protect freedom of religion in the event of a change to the Marriage Act.
The proposed Marriage Act Amendment Bill released by five Liberal MPs on August 6 falls far short of doing so. …”
— Editorial from The Australian, 14th August 2017. (Subscription.)
A Prayer for the Plebiscite
Dr David Peterson has written this prayer you may wish to use. We reproduce it here with his kind permission:
Loving Father, your Son the Lord Jesus Christ affirmed your purpose for marriage when he declared that, ‘a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.’
What you have joined together, we dare not separate.
We pray that, as the proposal for same-sex marriage is discussed in our country, your voice will be heard.
Even though other countries have legislated for same-sex marriage, we pray that this will not happen in Australia.
As the postal plebiscite takes place, we pray that many would think carefully about the implications and that the majority would reject the proposal.
Help us to show love and care for those who are same-sex attracted, but deliver us as a society from undermining your purpose for marriage.
We pray these things for your glory and in your Son’s name. Amen.
Rights clash looms in SSM debate – Essential reading
“While the flawed postal vote plebiscite has provoked furious rival responses, the pivotal problem is just emerging — the failure in any draft bill by Coalition or Labor MPs to fully protect religious freedoms once same-sex marriage is legislated. …
Beyond the campaign lies the great dilemma. The proposition is lethal — that it would constitute a historical betrayal of the values of the Coalition parties if they “backed” a bill post-plebiscite on same-sex marriage that exposed individuals and institutions to retaliation for their beliefs because the government failed to strengthen Australia’s woefully inadequate laws on religious freedom and protection. …“
– See this must read opinion piece by Paul Kelly in The Australian. (Subscription.)
The New / Old way our Culture pressures us to Conform
“As Christians we take comfort in laws governing free speech and protecting freedom of religion. But pleading conformity to the law means little when a society has shifted to a culture of shame and honour. …”
– Tim Challies addresses the answer to the shame Christians are tempted to feel.
Irish Same-sex marriage vote: How a Minority achieved a Majority
(Originally posted 24 May 2015.)
“For years leading up to Ireland’s civil partnership legislation, a small nongovernmental organisation (NGO) – the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) – along with its many supporters and collaborators, worked quietly and methodically toward this day. …
In 2005, GLEN received a sizable long-term grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies that allowed GLEN to increase its organisational capacity and to pursue its ambitious advocacy strategy for advancing equality for gays and lesbians in Ireland.
The story of how Ireland’s landmark legislation was achieved for same-sex couples holds insights and lessons for any advocacy group trying to achieve legislative change…”
– This PDF document, available on The Atlantic Philanthropies website, charts how minority groups were able to achieve the goal of Civil Partnership in Ireland back in 2010.
See also: Catalysing LGBT Equality and Visibility in Ireland (PDF).
Related:
Asking questions about funding for referendum campaign – Irish Times, 9th May 2015:
“The only acceptable narrative is that this is a benign grassroots movement, because if we admitted that it is instead a slick, elite movement of highly educated professionals funded from abroad we might have to admit we were skilfully manipulated. And that could not be true.”
Editorial Comment from Anglican Mainstream, 23 May 2015:
“This is a sad day for all who have campaigned and prayed for Ireland to hold the line on keeping the definition of marriage as an exclusive covenant between a man and a woman for life.
The result is not a surprise, because of orchestrated cultural change, huge disparity in resources between the Yes campaign (backed by government, media and American dollars), and the aggressive vilification of any individuals courageous enough to speak up for historic sexual morality, the sanctity of marriage and the bedrock of biological families.”
Why marriage should be between a man and a woman
” ‘On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect. The party’s position is very clear that this is an institution that is between a man and a woman.’
If I told you that was a quote from Cory Bernardi, Lyle Shelton or worse, that oft condemned unreconstructed traditionalist Tony Abbott, would you consider it just more evidence of their homophobia? Many commentators would. It seems right now no one can make any statement in favour of marriage without being condemned for being a ‘hater’ or ‘bigot’.
However, the statement doesn’t come from Mr Bernardi, but from that other strong-minded senator from South Australia, Penny Wong. …”
– Read the full article by Michael Kellahan, executive director of Freedom for Faith, at The Sydney Morning Herald. (Subscription.)
See also: Churches lay out plebiscite fears for PM, The Australian. (Subscription.)
The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, and leading Catholic officials have written to Malcolm Turnbull demanding that any proposed bill on same-sex marriage be released before Australians are asked to vote on the issue. …
“This timeframe is inappropriately short, particularly given there remain a number of unresolved questions concerning the postal plebiscite process,” Archbishop Davies wrote.
John Anderson on what’s happening in Australia over the same-sex marriage plebiscite
Former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson spoke about his very real concerns for Australia – on ABC News.
Well worth watching – on YouTube. (9’30”.)
Same-sex marriage: Prime Minister sets date for postal vote
“Australians could start receiving ballot papers to vote on same-sex marriage in their letter boxes from September 12.
The Federal Government has decided on a non-binding postal ballot if the Senate refuses to approve a compulsory plebiscite. …”
– Report from ABC News.
Update: Same-sex marriage will be legal by Christmas predicts Brandis. – ABC News.
Bill fails religious protection test – Anglican Diocese of Sydney Media Statement
Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement, 6th August 2017
Bill fails religious protection test
“There are serious religious issues and freedom of conscience concerns arising from the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 being promoted by some liberal MPs” said the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney today. Read more
Religious Freedom protections in new same sex marriage proposals: too few, too narrow
“The debate over same sex marriage in Australia has been re-ignited by news that some members of the federal governing Liberal/National Party (LNP) coalition are proposing, contrary to their party’s policy, to introduce legislation in Federal Parliament this coming week to redefine marriage to extend it to same sex couples.
In particular, press reports today indicate that a new Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 will be introduced, one feature of which is that it contains legislative protections for religious freedom, designed to encourage support of the legislation by believers.
In my view the protections to be provided, if press reports about the proposal are accurate, are far too few and far too narrow, and the proposal cannot be seen as providing adequate protection for this fundamental human right. …”
– Here is an important and very current contribution by Associate Professor Neil Foster, at Law and Religion Australia.
See also: Liberal MPs urged to “keep their promise” regarding a Plebiscite.
Chinese whispers at the ABC
“A media fracas broke out this past week over Julia Baird’s reports on the ABC about links between Christian teachings and domestic violence against women.
My personal experiences as an Anglican pastor resonated with much that Baird reported. She made valuable points about the impact of particular Christian teachings and Bible verses on some women, such as the injunction in St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians for wives to ‘submit’ to their husbands. I did not see her work as an attack on Christianity.
However Baird’s findings, which included harrowing interviews with victims of abuse, were overshadowed by disputes about a report she gave of American research findings concerning the connection between Christian faith and domestic abuse.…”
– At The Spectator Australia, Mark Durie in Melbourne looks at the ‘chain of evidence’ relied on in the ABC reports.
Also see Faith, family, violence and the ABC’s smears – Mark Powell.
“Since Baird’s article and the subsequent piece on 7:30, I have followed up on all the academic sources that she references. It really wasn’t that hard since there was only one. However, in that sole reference, a footnote led me to a number of other works. …”
Liberal MPs urged to “keep their promise” regarding a Plebiscite
“We now know that a group of Liberal MPs are planning to defy their Prime Minister and trash the election promise they made to you. They plan to cross the floor, vote with Labor, the Greens and independents to force the parliament to debate same-sex marriage.
They promised you there would be no change without a people’s vote. …”
– Australian Christian Lobby’s Lyle Shelton urges supporters to pray, and to contact Liberal members of Parliament (though a contact form at the link above) ahead of Monday afternoon’s party meeting.
Four stages of ‘evangelical’ affirmation of gay marriage
“I have noticed a pretty consistent progression among those who eventually embrace gay marriage. …
It usually takes some time to move from number 2 to number 3. McLaren and the Hatmakers both took four years to make that transition. But the transition from 3 to 4 can sometimes happen very rapidly. My observation, however, is that anyone who makes it to 3 eventually makes it to 4 also.”
– Denny Burk, Professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, shares what he has seen among those who call themselves ‘evangelicals’ in the USA.
Why next week’s Liberal Party showdown on Marriage as a proxy for the soul of our nation
“A glance at today’s headlines shows that same-sex marriage is tearing our political class apart. For an issue that doesn’t even register as a concern with the average punter – it is number 16 on the priority list for the left-leaning GetUp! supporters – it is dominating politics. …”
– The Australian Christian Lobby’s Lyle Shelton calls for prayer for Australia and its political leaders.
[Note: The Australian Christian Lobby and the Anglican Church League are not related. We just happen to have the same initials.]
Ready to give an answer
“Though we’re reading mixed signals from Parliament, let there be no mixed signals from the church. Though we hear rumours in Canberra of deferrals, reneging and equivocation … is our word our word? Are we ready to give an answer, even if that makes us unpopular with people we love?…”
– Presbyterian Moderator-General John P Wilson encourages Christians to be clear about what they believe, and to speak with gentleness and respect.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…