Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
1 Jun 2012
A private member's motion in the NSW Legislative Assembly which called for the legalisation of same-sex marriage won by six votes last night. The motion, put by Greens MP Cate Faehrmann passed 22 votes to 16 with both major parties allowing a conscience vote.
Marriage is a Federal responsibility governed by the 1961 Commonwealth Marriage Act.
However the debate was not a clear cut one on party lines.
Labor's leader in the Upper House, Luke Foley, a practising Catholic, said he believed civil unions were more appropriate for gay couples than marriage.
Labor's Greg Donnelly also noted the European Court of Human Rights did not consider homosexual marriage to be an inherent right.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Bishop Julian Porteous said the NSW Upper House to pass a motion calling on the federal government to allow same sex marriage was disappointing, but I am not sure how important it will be. He said the motion expressed a sentiment in favour of changing the definition of marriage but because this is a federal issue, it is of little consequence.
"What needs to be remembered in this debate is the depth of tradition across cultures and religions about the specific meaning and purpose of marriage. Marriage, as Jesus teaches us in the Gospels, is a union of a man and woman in which the two become one. Marriage is much more than a partnership and goes much deeper than mutual affection, because of the unique way men and women complement and complete each other. Its profound life-giving reality, a reality which is literally embodied in the children that only a man and a woman can have together, is revealed to us both from human reason and from the light of Divine revelation.
"Whatever the family situation in which children grow up, we all want them to be happy. As abundant evidence shows, the best chance of achieving this is for children to be brought up by their own father and mother in marriage.
At this time, as marriage is the subject of such strong public debate, I encourage all Catholics to deepen their understanding of the plan and purpose of God for marriage and family. Our society will only benefit and grow stronger from a rediscovery of the true nature of marriage.' Bishop Julian said.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
1 Jun 2012
State vote of little consequence in a Federal matter
- Bishop Julian
Marriage is a Federal responsibility governed by the 1961 Commonwealth Marriage Act.
However the debate was not a clear cut one on party lines.
Labor's leader in the Upper House, Luke Foley, a practising Catholic, said he believed civil unions were more appropriate for gay couples than marriage.
Labor's Greg Donnelly also noted the European Court of Human Rights did not consider homosexual marriage to be an inherent right.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Bishop Julian Porteous said the NSW Upper House to pass a motion calling on the federal government to allow same sex marriage was disappointing, but I am not sure how important it will be. He said the motion expressed a sentiment in favour of changing the definition of marriage but because this is a federal issue, it is of little consequence.
Our society will only benefit and grow stronger
from a rediscovery of the true nature of marriage
- Bishop Julian said.
"Whatever the family situation in which children grow up, we all want them to be happy. As abundant evidence shows, the best chance of achieving this is for children to be brought up by their own father and mother in marriage.
At this time, as marriage is the subject of such strong public debate, I encourage all Catholics to deepen their understanding of the plan and purpose of God for marriage and family. Our society will only benefit and grow stronger from a rediscovery of the true nature of marriage.' Bishop Julian said.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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