Australian bishops: ‘Don’t mess with marriage’
June 05, 2015
The bishops of Australia have released “Don’t Mess with Marriage,” a pastoral letter on the same-sex marriage debate.
“It is unjust, gravely unjust, to legitimize the false assertion that there is nothing distinctive about a man and a woman, a father or a mother; to ignore the particular values that real marriage serves; to ignore the importance for children of having a mum and a dad, committed to them and to each other for the long haul,” said Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney.
“If the civil law ceases to define marriage as traditionally understood, it will be a serious injustice and undermine that common good for which the civil law exists,” he continued. “Surely there are other ways of honoring the friendships of same-sex attracted and other people without further deconstructing marriage and the family.”
“A pear is not an apple,” Bishop Gregory O’Kelly of Port Pirie said in his own pastoral letter. “Same-sex marriage is not the same as a marriage between a man and a woman. The opinions of media personalities, or politicians, or a parliamentary vote can do what they wish, but no matter how much they say it, a pear remains a pear and does not change into an apple.”
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Further information:
- Don’t Mess with Marriage (Archdiocese of Sydney)
- 'Same-sex' Marriage: Media Release (ACBC)
- A Letter to the People of the Diocese Concerning Gay Marriage and Children (Diocese of Port Pirie)
- Australian Bishops Speak Out: Don’t Mess with Marriage (Marriage: Unique for a Reason)
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Posted by: Comares -
Jun. 06, 2015 6:22 AM ET USA
I wish that all of the Bishops of the Church could be so clear in their Teaching and also without any negativity. It is so refreshing. The Bishops of the UK and Ireland are too frightened to raise their heads above the parapet and the Laity loose out.
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Posted by: unum -
Jun. 05, 2015 10:49 PM ET USA
Australian bishops: ‘Don’t mess with marriage’ I applaud their courage. American bishops and pastors: ‘.........’ (Silence!) I wonder why they are silent while Obama, the Democrats, and the homosexual activists engage in a massive PR campaign for same sex marriage and the attitudes of younger Americans are rapidly shifting in favor of their position!
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Posted by: bruno.cicconi7491 -
Jun. 05, 2015 12:24 PM ET USA
“A pear is not an apple,[...]”? Does Bishop O'Kelly want his pastoral letters to be effectively read and understood by his parishioners? Because if he does, that's the way to go Bishop!!! So refreshing.
