The NSW Council of Churches

REPRESENTING: The Anglican Church (Diocese of Sydney) The Baptist Union * The Churches of Christ The Fellowship of Congregational Churches The Presbyterian Church * The Salvation Army * The Reformed Churches

Website: http://www.nswchurches.com

Friday 1 November 2002

Churches Say No to Same-Sex Marriage

In a move to uphold the Christian as well as the traditional concept of marriage as the union of two people of the opposite sex, the NSW Council of Churches has spoken out against the push for recognition of same-sex marriages including the “raising” of children in quasi marital relationships. This push received impetus from the two Bills submitted to the Federal Parliament by the Australian Democrats (Sexuality and Gender Identity Discrimination Bill 2002 and Sexuality Anti Vilification Bill 2002), High Court Judge Michael Kirby’s declaring his support for the Family Court being empowered to deal with property disputes between homosexual couples and the recent legislation in the NSW Parliament redefining the term ‘spouse’ to include partners to all de facto and same-sex relationships.

On the other hand the Council was encouraged by the Prime Minister’s earlier comment that “This issue involves overwhelmingly in the opinion of the government the right of children in our society to have the reasonable expectation, other things being equal, of the affection and care of both a mother and a father”. Not only is this the opinion of Government but of society as well. “Surely this is borne out by the fact that a majority of the community still chooses the traditional family arrangement, believing this best meets the needs of families and the society in which we live”, Council President Mr Ray Hoekzema said today. “History informs us that having a male and female parent is the ideal Christian norm and the most promising arrangement for a child’s well-being”.

Acknowledging that while a desire for children may be shared by homosexual and heterosexual couples alike, the Council reaffirmed its strong conviction that the traditional marriage and family arrangement best serve the genuine interests of all children. Mr Hoekzema urged the State government and community groups to rethink the importance of strong family ties for the well-being of children and families and for the nation itself, noting that “all family arrangements are not equal, nor will all have positive outcomes, no matter how hard we wish that this might be the case.”

“If same-sex marriage should win the day legally, the results would more than likely be detrimental to our society. It has been clearly established that family breakdown is the single most reliable predictor of school problems, teenage pregnancy, chemical addictions and crime. Marriages are fragile enough today as it is. Meddle with the unique legal status of traditional marriage and we will surely see an even more rapid erosion of family life – with all its frightening consequences,” Mr Hoekzema said.

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