Godless Business ? Anglicans against equality

Hot on the heels of the announcement of the Green intention to support same sex marriages within Tasmania, the Anglican Bishop of Tasmania,?the Right Reverend John Harrower, has issues a press release ?parliament to not support this motion?. ?Here?s what the good religionist had to say:

?I have consistently upheld the Church?s affirmation of the definition under the Marriage Act that marriage is the union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life.?

OK, so marriage is currently defined as a union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, which seems to be a blatant admission the law is discriminatory and needs to change.

?I have also consistently supported the recognition of gay and lesbian relationships and have advocated for appropriate legal protection for gay and lesbian couples in areas where there was formerly discrimination.?

So on one hand Bishop supports the discrimination against gays within the Marriage Act, while on the other he advocates for legal protection against discrimination. ?One wonders how the Bishop could simultaneously?hold obviously conflicting ideas within his head without exploding. ?I suspect years of intense theological training have prepared him for such incredible feats.

Bishop Harrower said, ?Mr McKim?s call for ?Marriage Equality? is disingenuous.

Yes, because allowing everyone to marry regardless of their sexuality could certainly not be called ?equality?.

What he intends is a redefinition of marriage itself.

Of course. The whole purpose of parliament is to enact laws for the effective administration of a fair, equitable, peaceful, and prosperous society.

Redefining marriage does very little, if anything, to extend rights or equality before the law.

Except the Marriage Act IS LAW.

It appears to be less about extending rights to a minority and more about compelling all to conform to a novel and unnecessary view.

Of course it?s about extending right to a minority ? a minority that has been unfairly discriminated against for far too long simply because of who they are.

?The institution of marriage is much more than the expression of private love but is a responsibility and a commitment of a particular sort within society.?

Are we to believe that homosexuals are somehow incapable of truly committing to marriage in the same way heterosexuals can? ?On what data does Mr. Harrower make this conclusion?

And what is with this ?particular sort? language? ?The subtext seems to be that the good Bishop will not tolerate the ?wrong sort? getting married, and maintains this position under the disguise of ?advocating for appropriate legal protection?.

?Redefining marriage will disenfranchise those who have embraced and value that particular form of commitment.?

I have never understood this argument. ?How does another?s marriage affect my own? ?Are we to believe that a sudden influx of gay marriages will somehow result in a huge number of heterosexual marriages realising their vows before god mean nothing? ?Will they all suddenly run off to file for divorce, signalling the end of civilisation and life on this planet? ?Somehow, I think not.

I would encourage Bishop Harrower to revisit the Bible to see what Jesus would do in these circumstances. ?Although, since Jesus never mentioned homosexuals (not even once), we may have to extrapolate what his attitude may have been from other statements he reportedly made. ?How about we start with these poignant passages:

?Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.? -?Matthew 7:12

?And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.? ? Luke 6:31

So Right Reverend John Harrower, how would you feel if some religious wing nut was preventing you from legally marrying the person you loved?

Update: It?s a good thing our politicians don?t listen to the religious lobby. ?The Tasmanian parliament has upheld equality and voted for gay marriage.

Source: http://www.godless.biz/2011/09/21/anglicans-against-equality/

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