The head of the Anglican church in Australia, The Most Rev’d Dr Phillip Aspinall, has said Bills before parliament to allow same-sex marriage do not affect religious freedom.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, welcomed the statement saying,
“We welcome Archbishop Aspinall’s statement because it sends a strong message to all Australian faith groups that they have nothing to fear from marriage equality.”
“Our message has always been ‘we come in peace’, and I’m pleased to see the message being accepted by such a respected religious leader.”
In a letter to a member of Australian Marriage Equality Archbishop Aspinall confirms that the Anglican Church continues to believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman. (Letter here)
But he also says the Marriage Act already contains religious protections that will continue if one of the three Bills before parliament becomes law.
Archbishop Aspinall stated:
“I am advised that the Marriage Act 1961, as it stands, contains adequate protection for religious freedom. In particular, section 47 of the Act provides that a minister of religion is not obliged to solemnize any marriage, and the amendments proposed in the three Bills now before Parliament do not affect this protection.”
The Archbishop also condemned some of the language used against supporters of marriage equality, and joined Australian Marriage Equality in calls for a respectful debate:
“I am concerned to promote respectful dialogue among people of diverse views, and I would, of course, eschew any defamatory comments made against supporters of same-sex marriage.” The Most Rev’d Dr Phillip Aspinall stated.
The news comes at the Senate Inquiry into same-sex marriage received an unprecidented number of submissions in favour of marriage equality, making the Marriage Equality Bill the most popular Bill in parliament’s history (full details here) and as growing number of multi-faith Clergy (currently 74) from around the country have called on Australians to show support for reform as it will “strengthen families and communities” (full details here).
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.