\u201cIt arose in the context of the same-sex marriage debates last year, and the realisation that the changing legal landscape had put our Anglican institutions at risk of anti-discrimination complaints and other adverse action.\u201d Bishop Stead said.<\/p>\n
The Bishop admitted the policy was a \u2018clunky\u2019 way to handle the problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe core problem is that there is almost no positive protection for freedom of religion in Australian law. Instead, what little protection there is comes from carve-outs \u2013 exemptions \u2013 in anti-discrimination legislation. Exemptions are the wrong way to deal with this \u2013 it is a sledge-hammer to crack a peanut. However, it seems that there is no political appetite for a proper fix, and it seems we are stuck with clunky exemptions. And this policy and ordinance is the \u2013 also somewhat clunky \u2013 way to address this. \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cTo rely on existing anti-discrimination exemptions, a religious institution must demonstrate that its actions conform to the \u2018doctrines, tenets or beliefs of that religion\u2019. To ensure that the courts know what \u201cour doctrines, tenets or beliefs\u201d are, we need a clear articulation of our doctrines.\u201d<\/p>\n