The Bishop of Ballarat has written to schools and parishes reminding them of Pope Francis’ view that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.
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In the September 12 letter, Bishop Paul Bird speaks of the “proposal to change the legal definition of marriage” and Pope Francis’ “observations” on what a family is.
The letter, which has been issued to all parishes and schools in the Ballarat diocese, comes as Australians vote on whether the law should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry.
Bishop Bird recalls observations Pope Francis made in The Joy of Love: On Love and Family, a document he issued last year.
The letter says: “Pope Francis refers to marriage as the union of a man and a woman, with its characteristics of exclusivity, indissolubility and openness to life”.
“In other words, he sees marriage as a unique and abiding commitment of a man and a woman to one another, and a commitment that is open to bringing children into the world,” he said.
“While he (Pope Francis) shows great respect for every person and recognises the goodness in the many relationships in people’s lives, Pope Francis encourages us to have a special regard for the particular relationship involved in the union of a man and and woman that is open to new life”.
While Pope Francis recognises various “family situations” which offer a “certain stability”, he “distinguishes them from the family founded on marriage”.
“...Defacto or same sex unions, for example, may not simply be equated with marriage,” he said. “No union that is temporary or closed to the transmission of life can ensure the future of society.”
Pope Francis refers to the change in (same-sex marriage) law in countries “that have promoted alternatives to marriage in the traditional sense, leading to a legal deconstruction of the family”.
Warrnambool’s Our Lady Help of Christians parish priest Lawrie O’Toole said the letter was mentioned in the parish bulletin on the weekend and copies of the letter were available.
Fr O’Toole said he hadn’t received any feedback from parishioners. “We announced it on the bulletin and it is in the church foyer for people to clearly see and pick up,” he said.
A spokeswoman at St Joseph’s Church in Warrnambool said they also included information about the letter in the church bulletin on the weekend and copies were available from the church’s gathering space.
Emmanuel College acting principal Lisa Pope said principal Peter Morgan was on leave until the start of term four and “has directed that no communications around this topic be sent out out in his absence”.