Marriage equality advocates have rejected claims by Catholic Bishops that marriage equality will undermine family life and damage society, and have urged all marriage equality supporters to write to the current Senate inquiry.  (Report here).

Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, and five other bishops will send out 80,000 letters this weekend asking parishioners to oppose marriage equality. Meanwhile the Senate inquiry into the issue will close for public submissions on Monday 2nd April.

Alex Greenwich, National Convener of Australian Marriage Equality, said:

“Families and societies are only strengthened when couples are allowed to commit to each other through marriage, so to hear Archbishop Hart discouraging any recognition of this commitment is extraordinary and heartless.”

Research of the impact of marriage equality overseas has shown that couples feel more committed and families more secure when given the option to marry.” (Summary here)

A report by the Australian Psychological Society found that outcomes for children raised by same-sex couples were “as favourable as those in families of heterosexual parents”. (Report here)

Mr Greenwich said churches have nothing to fear from marriage equality because religious freedom will be maintained:

Religious ministers will maintain the right to refuse to marry same-sex couples when marriage equality becomes law, so churches have nothing to fear from this reform.”

Mr Greenwich rejected a claim by Sale Bishop Christopher Prowse that same-sex marriage would lead to polygamy:

The claim that this reform will lead to polygamy is a red herring and without foundation in reality. None of the countries that allow marriage equality have subsequently legalised polygamy.”

A Galaxy poll last year found that 53% of Australian Christians support marriage equality. (Poll results here)

Submissions to the Senate Inquiry on Marriage Equality are due April 2nd, further information can be found here.

For further information please contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.