CATHOLICS across the south-west will be called to arms and asked to make their views on same sex marriage known the Federal Parliament.
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Six Catholic Bishops across Victoria have circulated 80,000 copies of a letter as of yesterday telling Catholics they have a responsibility and a duty to lobby Parliament.
The spiritual leader for the Ballarat Diocese, Bishop Peter Connors, said Catholics had a responsibility to defend the nature of marriage and, in doing so, there is no unjust discrimination or infringement of human rights.
“Marriage is founded on the wonderful fact of sexual difference and its potential for new life,” he said.
Bishop Connors said there wasn’t a lack of respect for people who identified as gay or lesbian but there was a concern for the future of the whole of society.
“We wish to preserve the true meaning of marriage for future generations,” he said.
“We fear for the ramifications of a legislation that would completely redefine marriage.”
In the letter, the Bishops say some people now seek to alter the very nature of the human person through legislation. “Our Australian society is now at a critical turning point where truth is at stake,” the letter states.
“The Church firmly believes that marriage is founded on the wonderful fact of sexual difference and its potential for new life. Without this there would be no human beings and no future.
“Children are best nurtured by a mother and father.”
Bishop Christopher Prowse, from the Diocese of Sale, said there was a need to protect and promote the traditional understanding of marriage.
He said allowing same sex marriage would make the sanctity of marriage even more fragile than it already is.
He said the Christian values were established long before government. “We have a social responsibility to foster the idea of marriage,” he said.
The Bishops encourage all Catholics to make direct representation to their members of Parliament and to respond to the online survey being conducted by the Federal Parliament Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs.
The Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on the True Meaning of Marriage from the Catholic Bishops of Victoria will be available at Masses in most of Victoria’s Catholic churches this weekend.
National Convener of Australian Marriage Equality Alex Greenwich said research into the impact of marriage equality overseas has shown that couples feel more committed and families more secure when given the right to marry.
He said he was heartened by the strong support for marriage equality from other faith groups and Christians.
“Polling shows a majority of Christians support marriage equality, and this is because they value love, equality, and fairness,” he said.
cquirk@standard.fairfax.com.au
