Must read: Deception on freedom of religion key to SSM Yes case

Posted on September 13, 2017
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“We are being put on notice. You would have to be politically blind to deny the reality (an option many politicians have deliberately chosen). The post-same-sex marriage battle is already under way. This is because while many people genuinely see same-sex marriage as an issue of non-discrimination, this was never its essence. It is an ideological cause seeking fundamental changes in Western society, laws and norms. It will continue apace after the law is changed.

Marriage equality is an ideology and ideologies, by nature, do not settle for compromise victories. As Benjamin Law says in Quarterly Essay: Moral Panic 101: “It might be stating the obvious but same-sex marriage is far from the final frontier in the battle against homophobia.” The struggle will continue — in schools and in institutions. Law says the two biggest LGBTI issues are Safe Schools and same-sex marriage. …

The pretence by Yes case politicians that the plebiscite has no consequences for the Safe Schools program treats us like fools. …”

– Paul Kelly, writing in The Australian (subscription) argues that freedom of religion will be one of the first casualties of same-sex marriage. Read it all.

Praying together this Sunday

Posted on September 13, 2017
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“Archbishop Glenn Davies has urged churches to set aside this Sunday as a day of Praying together for Marriage.

The Archbishop foreshadowed the initiative in this month’s edition of the Diocesan magazine, Southern Cross, which includes a prayer Dr Davies wrote for the day.

The Australian newspaper last week reported the initiative, set down for this Sunday, September 17th. …”

– Read the story from SydneyAnglicans.net, and please be encouraged to pray.

Related: Archbishop Davies’ prayer.

Same-sex marriage is a test of Australian maturity that we may not pass

Posted on September 13, 2017
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“It’s time not just to focus on who will win the marriage war, but how we are going to live with the peace.

For good or ill, the legislation of same-sex marriage in Australia became inevitable once Labor made it party policy. Irrespective of what happens with the postal plebiscite, Labor will achieve government at some stage.

There will be no peace until same-sex marriage is enacted in a way that can’t be undone. It will be on the day after the change — or rather, in the decades after — that Australia will face an important test of its maturity as a civil and civilised society. …

in my own Anglican tradition, simply reading the prayer book preface to the service of matrimony will become a politically controversial act. Here, for example, is the opening of the second order for marriage in An Australian Prayer Book: …”

– Robert Forsyth, retired Bishop of South Sydney, has had this opinion piece published by the ABC.

Tony Abbott on why same sex marriage would fundamentally change society

Posted on September 12, 2017
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“We shouldn’t lightly change what’s been the foundation of our society for generations; and, if we do, it should only be after the most careful weighing of all the consequences. Yet if the polls are to be believed, we are about to discard the concept of marriage that has stood since time immemorial in favour of a new concept that would have been scornfully rejected even by gay people just a generation ago. …”

– Tony Abbott MP writes in The Sydney Morning Herald.

Global South Primates’ Communique, Cairo, September 9 2017

Posted on September 12, 2017
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“We, the Primates of the Global South, met in Cairo from 8-9 September 2017 to work together in service of the Church, to follow up the recommendation of the 2016 Global South Conference and to discuss arising issues. …

We express our sadness for the decision taken by the Scottish Episcopal Church to change its doctrine of marriage and are thankful for the faithful remnant of the Scottish Anglican Network that continues to contend for God’s Word. We are also saddened by the decisions of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada to allow same-sex marriage. If this decision is ratified it will further tear the fabric of the Communion. …

We are saddened that the 16th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Lusaka, Zambia, did not unequivocally accept the decisions of the last Primates Meeting. While we expressed a desire to walk together as a Communion, this was contingent upon our decisions regarding The Episcopal Church being respected and upheld. Unfortunately, this agreement was not enforced and The Episcopal Church has been allowed to take part in decision making regarding ‘matters pertaining to polity and doctrine.’ They have also represented us in ecumenical meetings. This has led to a further breakdown of trust and confidence.

In light of this reality, we discussed the Archbishop of Canterbury’s invitation to the upcoming Primates’ Meeting. …”

– Read the full Communique at Global South Anglican.

Same-sex-marriage postal survey without detail a ‘blank cheque’

Posted on September 12, 2017
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“Malcolm Turnbull has been accused of handing a ‘blank cheque’ to the parliament after the government declared it would not move to provide religious protections before the same-sex-marriage survey is finalised.

Senior ministers yesterday confirmed that no bill outlining religious protections would be endorsed by the government until after the result was declared, arguing it would only be required should a Yes vote be returned.

The decision flies in the face of a warning from former prime minister John Howard, revealed in The Weekend Australian…”

– Story from The Australian. (Subscription.)

Andrew Hastie MP is interviewed on The Bolt Report, 11 September 2017.

Church Society launches a Podcast

Posted on September 11, 2017
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The first episode includes an interview with the Church Society’s President, Bishop Wallace Benn.

Reformation Rally 2017 — Dr Gerald Bray

Posted on September 11, 2017
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Dr Gerald Bray spoke at Moore College’s Reformation Rally held at St Andrew’s Cathedral on 26 August 2017.

His topic: The Way the Reformers looked at the Work of The Holy Spirit.

Reformation Rally 2017 sermon — Dr Glenn Davies

Posted on September 11, 2017
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Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, preached the sermon at the 1552 Book of Common Prayer: Morning Prayer Service. He speaks of the Scriptures as the very bedrock for understanding God.

It was part of Moore College’s Reformation Rally held at St Andrew’s Cathedral on 26 August 2017.

‘Malcolm Turnbull urges Australians to say yes as thousands in Sydney rally’

Posted on September 10, 2017
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“Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians to say yes in the postal survey as thousands packed out Sydney’s CBD to rally for same-sex marriage. …

Mr Turnbull pointed to the fact that same-sex marriage had already been legislated for in 23 countries, including several with which Australia has close cultural affinities.

‘In any one of those nations, has the sky fallen in? Has life as we know it come to a halt? Has traditional marriage as we know it been undermined? The answer is no.’ …”

– Report from ABC News. Image: ABC News.

Since the Prime Minister raises the issues, see also:

John Anderson argues for a No vote:

“We need to be honest, and we have the right to ask the hard questions. The evidence here and abroad suggests that it would be naïve to think it’s simply about marriage…”

What’s changed in Britain since same-sex marriage?:

“I urge every Aussie to examine the evidence, analysis the results and be clear about what you’re voting for. If it was solely marriage, it would worth preserving. It’s infinitely more. …” –David Sargeant at Spectator Australia.

There’s never been a better time to be a Christian

Posted on September 9, 2017
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“What a mess our poor nation is in. There is so much conflict, so much confusion, so much pain.

We have forgotten what a human being is. We have forgotten what male and female is. Men and women have forgotten how to have sex. We have forgotten how to marry. We have forgotten how to care for the children we bear. Children are taught that boys can be girls, and girls can be boys.

Our freedom to speak is dissolving before our eyes. Pastors are called before government tribunals for teaching the Bible. And Christian doctors who speak their mind are threatened with deregistration.

All this while marriage remains as yet un-redefined in our laws.

Moreover, the Opposition Leader has promised that if marriage laws change, Christian businesses will have no protections for acting according to their conscience.

If marriage is redefined there’ll be a relentless flood of de-registrations and prosecutions.

And so there has never been a better time to be a Christian!

There are two reasons why I believe this is true. …”

– Campbell Markham spoke at the Tasmanian launch of the Coalition for Marriage.

John Anderson argues for a No vote

Posted on September 9, 2017
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“Former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson says, ‘We need to be honest, and we have the right to ask the hard questions. The evidence here and abroad suggests that it would be naïve to think it’s simply about marriage’.”

– An important video message from John Anderson – on Facebook.

John Howard kickstarts No SSM case

Posted on September 9, 2017
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“John Howard has called for proposed same-sex marriage legislation, including full protections for parents, religion and free speech, to be produced before the postal survey vote closes in November, as he launches his support for the No campaign.

The former prime minister said yesterday it was disingenuous for the Yes campaign to argue that changing the law to include same-sex marriage did not affect other rights and that the survey involved a simple yes/no question. …”

– Dennis Shanahan writes in The Australian (Subscription.) Photo: ABC.

Christchurch Cathedral to be rebuilt

Posted on September 9, 2017
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“More than six years after being destroyed in the deadly earthquake that struck Christchurch, the city’s iconic cathedral will be rebuilt by the Anglican Church in New Zealand. …”