Comments by Anglican Archbishop, Dr Peter Jensen, linking same-sex marriage to polygamy and incest have been criticised by former Dutch MP and Advocacy Director for New York-based Human Rights Watch, Boris Dittrich.
Mr Dittrich said he recalls similar tactics being used in the Netherlands 10 years ago:
“In Holland religious leaders tried to scare the general public by stating that same sex marriage would lead to accepting polygamy. These arguments were dismissed by the government. And Holland hasn’t seen polygamy in the 10 years after same sex marriage was introduced in 2001” Mr Dittrich Said.
Alex Greenwich, National Convener of Australian Marriage Equality, pointed out that proposed amendments to the Marriage Act allowing same-sex marriages will permit the Anglican Church to continue to interpret marriage as it current does, but will also allow other religions celebrants to perform same-sex marriages if they wish.
“I can respectfully assure Archbishop Jenson that, should the discrimination against same-sex couples be removed from the Marriage Act, the Anglican Church will still be able to refuse to marry same-sex couples”, Mr Greenwich said.
“The Archbishop should acknowledge we live in a secular, multi-faith society, and as such he must understand that his views should not be imposed on those religions that want to perform same-sex marriages, such as the Quakers and progressive Synagogues, or the civil celebrants who perform 67% of all marriages”
Mr Greenwich also pointed out that the Archbishop’s comments are contradicted by the international experience:
“Not one of the alarmist predications made by the Archbishop have come to pass in any of the countries that allow same-sex marriages to take place, including Catholic Spain, Portugal and Argentina.”
An information sheet on marriage equality and religion can be accessed here and the Union of Progressive Jews statement in support of marriage equality can be found here.
A full report on the Archbishop’s comments can be viewed here
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.