MORE than half of 200,000 responses to an inquiry have backed same-sex marriages, but even more say celebrants should not perform such ceremonies.
While 58.1 per cent backed the move, 79.4 per cent of respondents said authorised celebrants should not be obliged to perform same-sex marriages. Submissions to the inquiry closed on Friday.
A spokesman for the Australian Christian Lobby cited the prospect of celebrants being forced to perform same-sex weddings as a symbol of the constant push against religious freedoms in Australia.