Giving churches the choice not to conduct same-sex wedding ceremonies could be the best compromise in the heated debate on gay marriage, independent MP Andrew Wilkie says.
Mr Wilkie on Monday introduced a notice of motion to federal parliament aimed at protecting churches from any potential changes to marriage laws.
“Churches are private institutions, and obviously it must remain up to them who they marry,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week ruled out the Labor federal government initiating any bill to change the Marriage Act, which limits marriage to a union between a man and a woman.
She has instead proposed federal Labor MPs and senators be free to vote on same-sex marriage in parliament according to their own values and beliefs.
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