Message from Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay

Postal Vote on Marriage

“The truth does not change with time. The truth withstands social changes and trends.”

Dear Friends,

Over the last few weeks you have read, heard and received a lot of messages from individuals, agencies and organisations about the postal vote regarding the amendment of the marriage act to allow same-sex marriage. Some of these messages may appear politically correct, ambiguous and confusing, or telling you to exercise your conscience. Well, let me tell you very clearly: your Christian conscience and duty, should tell you, beyond any reasonable doubt, to vote NO. There is no room for ambiguity or confusion and this is no time for political correctness. Your NO is enshrined in the history of humanity over millions of years and in the Church's teachings about family and marriage. It confirms 2000 years of these teachings. The truth does not change with time. The truth withstands social changes and trends.

I recently came across this very suitable quote from Rick Warren:

“Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.”

Our friends with same-sex attraction deserve our love, our respect and our compassion. We disagree with their lifestyle but we are not homophobes or bigots. It’s okay to vote NO. We are capable of loving them without believing in what they do. Jesus himself did it on the cross: he forgave and loved those who disagreed with him, persecuted and killed him. And if Jesus did it, then we HAVE to do it, because “No disciple is above his master” (Matt 10:24).

Dear friends, the challenge is big and these are hard times but I call you to fight the good fight, spread the word, and stand for the Truth. And our Christian truth has a capital T because it is not an ideology or concept; it is a person, the person of Jesus Christ himself, an eternal and everlasting Truth.