Archbishop calls for overturning territory’s recognition of same-sex unions

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Comments: 6

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd / Archbishop Mark Coleridge

Canberra, Australia, Nov 18, 2009 / 06:15 am (CNA).- Calling on Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd to overturn the Australian Capital Territory Government’s new laws recognizing same-sex civil unions, Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn Mark Coleridge has charged that the unions “mimic” marriage and will undermine its importance.

The ACT’s Legislative Assembly has passed laws for legally binding civil union ceremonies between same-sex couples. It is the third attempt to recognize the ceremonies, with the assembly’s previous legislation having been rejected by both the Rudd government and the Howard government, the Australian Associated Press reports.

Responding to the legislation, Archbishop Coleridge said in a Monday statement “It is vital for the life of the nation that marriage be supported and promoted in every way possible at a time when it is under severe pressure.”

He argued that civil unions would reduce marriage between a man and a woman to being merely one of a number of options. He explained that marriage is a recognition that the relationship between a man and a woman is “uniquely important” to society, in large part because it can beget children.

Saying it is wrong to deny justice to homosexuals, he added that justice concerns rights and duties.

“In this case we are not talking of the right of some to which there corresponds a duty for all. We are talking of a desire – something which some may want but to which they are not necessarily entitled.

“In this case, the kind of civil union desired by some undermines the common good, which is served only where marriage between a man and woman is identified and supported as unique and uniquely important for society.”

Archbishop Coleridge said that confusing desires and rights is bound to lead to bad law, as is the case when a government “focuses upon the individual at the expense of the community as a whole.”

The archbishop noted that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had made a “clear commitment” to prevent marriage from “being undermined in this way.”

“Until now he has shown admirable resolve in holding to that commitment,” the prelate’s letter concluded, calling for the Prime Minister and the government to act in the interests of the Australian community by overturning the ACT legislation.

Comments: 6

Subscriber comments:

Published by: MarkF
Falls Church, VA 12/14/2009 12:41 AM EST

Raycol, you've got one part of it right. Jesus talked about marriage as part of the sacred creation. Marriage between a man and a woman is a reflection of the love between Jesus and his Church. But you are WAY wrong to say that Jesus implied that gay marriage was fine. In no place in the Bible is homosexual behavior ever mentioned except as a sin. If you can take the silence of Jesus on the specific question of marriage between people of the same gender as approval for it, then we would also have to believe that his silence on incest is a tacit approval of it.

Published by: Raycol
Sydney 11/21/2009 04:43 AM EST

The Bible presents male-female marriage as the usual pattern but does not prohibit other types of marriages. Also, in Jesus’ comments on divorce in Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9, he quoted the Creation story simply to show that male-female marriage should be permanent. He did not state or imply that marriage should be restricted to male-female marriage only.

Published by: shelley argent
brisbane 11/18/2009 11:53 PM EST

What do people have to fear by allowing same sex couples the stability, security and joy that come with marriage. Mixed race marriages and couples of mixed religions were once not condoned. Children of mixed religions eg. catholic and protestant were once seen as illegitimate if not brought up in the catholic church. Society is changing and inclusion of minority groups can only benefit society. Discrimination benefits no one. People have nothing to fear but fear itself. Justified discrimination is still discrimination.

Published by: Eterio
Sydney 11/18/2009 05:32 PM EST

They should be called Man and Man Marraige and the other one would be Woman and Woman Marraige. A couple of man and a couple of woman. it shall be written it shall be done..

Published by: Bern
Auchenflower 11/18/2009 05:31 PM EST

It is time Mr Rudd stood by his policies instead of flying around the world seeking to create a new world government. We need leadership on this issue as marriage between a man and woman is the fundamental building block of society.

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 11/18/2009 07:08 AM EST

(Mark 10:6-9) "But from the beginning of the creation, God made them MALE and FEMALE. For this cause, a MAN shall leave his FATHER and MOTHER and shall cleave to his wife. And they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder".

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