NSW Council of Churches supports High Court challenge

Posted on October 22, 2013 
Filed under Australia

NSW Council of ChurchesHere’s a Media Release from the NSW Council of Churches, 22 October 2013 –

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is to be commended for his Government’s support of uniform national marriage laws and the decision to vigorously challenge the ACT Government’s new same sex marriage laws in the High Court.

“We can’t have States and Territories passing laws that deeply divide Australians and that are guaranteed to face expensive legal challenges,” the President of the NSW Council of Churches, the Reverend Dr Ross Clifford, said today.

“The NSW Council of Churches believes that a change in federal marriage law would be contrary to our Australian culture and heritage,” NSW Council of Churches Public Affairs Director, the Reverend Rod Benson, said.

“It is imperative that Prime Minister Tony Abbott remain firm in his support for the current definition of marriage in federal law, and true to his Government’s election mandate to defend the meaning of marriage as currently defined in Commonwealth law,” Revd Benson said.

“From its opening chapters, the Bible clearly upholds that marriage is intended to be a relationship between a man and a woman. Australia needs conviction politicians who are willing to take an uncompromising stand on social issues, who will uphold traditions and customs that have served society well in the past,” Dr Clifford said.

– via e-mail.