IF THE STATE ACCEPTS SAME SEX MARRIAGE, LEGAL PROTECTION FOR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED SO THAT CHURCHES CAN RETAIL THEIR DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE AS BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN 21 May 2013
Kevin Rudd today has said religious organisations must be legally protected so that they can refuse to conduct same sex marriages in the future. “The separation of church and state means the laws of the state on this matter must protect the rights of churches†“Legal protections must be put in place so that religious organisations can continue to conduct marriages in accordance with their beliefs – that is exclusively between a man and a woman†Mr Rudd said that he now accepted that the secular state should recognise same sex marriage. Such marriages would be conducted through civil ceremonies. Nonetheless, Mr Rudd would insist that any such legislation would have no impact on the ability of religious organisations to conduct their own religious ceremonies on the basis of the traditional definition of a marriage. “It is important that Australia embraces a course of action on the question of marriage that does not unnecessarily divide our society†Mr Rudd’s full article on this matter is available at: www.kevinruddmp.com |
