ANGLICAN MEDIA SYDNEY

MEDIA RELEASE

Age of consent legislation is dangerous for children

May 8, 2003

Leaders in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney are speaking out against legislation introduced by Attorney General, Bob Debus, into the Lower House of State Parliament yesterday.

The Diocese rejects proposals to lower the age of consent for homosexual activity by males from 18 to 16.

"The Attorney General Bob Debus claims it's inconsistent and discriminatory for the age of consent for some sexual acts to be 18 and others 16," said the Dr Glenn Davies, Bishop of North Sydney and author of a paper Homosexuality in the New Testament.

"But it's also discriminatory to have a law that allows teenagers to engage in sexual activity when other laws do not permit them to participate as equals in our community in certain areas of their lives. 16-year olds exercise very little autonomy - most of them are still at school, they are not permitted to vote, buy tobacco products or alcohol, join the armed forces or change their name.

"The reason we have these laws is because our society rightly recognises that children are vulnerable and need protection. 16-year-olds are vulnerable to sexual predators as at this age they are still growing and developing into adult maturity, both physically and psychologically.

"Lowering the age of consent to 16 takes away the onus of responsibility on adults to act with integrity toward young people. The protection of children from sexual predators should surely be at the forefront of our concerns.

"In all of this, the Diocese of Sydney holds to biblical teaching that sexuality should only be exercised in the context of marriage. However, we recognise that this is not the choice for many members of our society.

"If consistency must be achieved, the age of consent for all sexual acts should be raised to 18 with exemptions, that currently exist, for peers who wish to participate in a sexual relationship on equal terms," he said.

The Social Issues Executive for the Anglican Diocese made a submission to the recent inquiry into the lowering of the age of consent before the State election. The Executive argued that in the interest of children the age of consent should be raised to 18 for all sexual activity.

The Reverend Alan Stewart, CEO of Anglican Youth Works has expressed outrage that, in the light of society's criticism of the Governor-General's mishandling of sexual abuse matters while Archbishop of Brisbane, the State Government is seeking to remove protections for children.

"It strikes me as a massive case of hypocrisy that we would consider crucifying the Governor-General for his lack of care in not protecting children from sexual exploitation and, at the same time, consider reducing the age of consent for homosexual sex to 16.

"16-year-olds are not allowed to watch explicit sex scenes in R-rated movies, yet under the proposed legislation they would be allowed to participate in such sex acts.

"Jesus demonstrated just how much he cared for little ones and how important it is that those who are vulnerable are not disadvantaged or exploited," Mr Stewart said.

"At this time when the well being and protection of minors is uppermost in the community mind and conversation, it is appalling that the NSW Government should be contemplating this legislation that will surely expose minors to sexual encounters with adults," Bishop Davies said.