Should the Marriage Act allow two people of the same sex to be married?
Over the years, I’ve said little about same-sex relationships. My opposition is known but I hope I put my views with respect. I have supported legislation to register relationships and to extend economic rights. I condemn violence against homosexual people. Like most Australians, I prefer to live and let live. Furthermore, I am all too aware how close to home this is for a number of us, either personally or through family members and I appreciate that this discussion can be painful. Nonetheless, since change is being actively advocated we need to be clear that what is at stake is not simply an extension of marriage ”˜rights’ but a change to the definition of marriage itself.
Think what marriage is. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman, from different families, publicly joined through an exchange of promises committing them to life-long exclusive fidelity. That marriage involves a man and woman is by design.
++Jensen’s orthodox teaching on marriage and homosexuality is unremarkable in the Global South (or in orthodox enclaves in the west) but would never get a hearing in most of the progressive Anglican west.
I am just thankful that I live under an archbishop who is faithful to God’s word. As he finishes his article:
[blockquote] “A homosexual activist once told me he was annoyed that Christian leaders were the last significant people in the community still teaching clearly that sex outside marriage is a sin. But he believed that even if we were silent, society at large would still not normalise homosexual behaviour. I think he was right. Deep down, society will not honour same-sex relationships like real marriage. This is not intolerance. Same-sex relationships will still exist. But they will not be called something that they are not. Our society reserves honour for marriage where lifelong vows are exchanged, between a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others. This is a painful subject but we must continue to uphold real marriage as an act of love for our neighbour and for future generations.” [/blockquote]