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SAME SEX MARRIAGE OR EQUALITY…BRIDGING THE DIVIDE*
Across the world, several national constitutions make reference to God, most often in the preamble. It is these references that are found notably in sovereign traditions, reflecting the strong position of established churches in those countries and the practise of invoking God in legal documents across the governmental landscape.
Foundational History
The inclusion of the words, “humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God”, in the Constitution exemplifies how it is infused with religiosity as one of its co-authors stated…
“The Commonwealth of Australia will be, from its first stage, a Christian Commonwealth.” Sir John Downer, 1898.
Legal Doctrine
Marriage in Australia is defined as ‘the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others’ which is governed by the Marriage Act 1961 and is one example of invoking Judeo Christian religious law. This interwoven approach between ‘State’ and ‘Church’ is as divisive as it is flawed and is counterproductive to reducing the impact of inequality in our society.
To allow inclusivity and equality for all citizens, there needs to be a very clear delineation between the law of the State and the law of the Church. The guiding principle is to treat all citizens with respect and avail them the dignity and legality of equal rights, irrespective of whether they identify themselves as heterosexual, lesbian or gay.
The Politicians
All of the rhetoric generated by previous and current politicians has been focussed on a tightrope balance between appeasing their conservative and progressive voter bases. It’s all about the votes. It is our self serving politicians that are responsible for creating a greater divide on this topic by choosing a side.
The conservatives will never support an amendment to the definition of marriage to include same sex couples. Conversely, the progressives insistence on inclusivity based on an amendment to the definition of one word is not going to happen either.
Delivering equality for all, will require Politicians to adopt an innovative approach to uniting the population on this issue, instead of hiding themselves behind Plebiscites and notions of privilege that empower incumbent politicians to vote on this issue amongst themselves.
The Church
The Catholics, Eastern and Western Orthodox based Judeo Christian religions Do Not Have the Authority to change God’s commandments, laws or definitions thereof. To this end, over a number of decades, Cardinals, Bishops and Priests have continued to lobby politicians against supporting same sex marriage. However, in blatant contradiction to this understanding, the Church has been responsible for deceiving billions of believers over many centuries by positioning itself above the word of God and ignoring two commandments.
Commandment 2
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Just walk into any of the abovementioned religious churches and see it for yourself. “Graven images” and sculptures adorn all of the walls and halls.
Commandment 4
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. 10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Saturday is meant to be observed as the holy day but this was changed long ago to Sunday.
The church and its hierarchical structure of teachers is not infallible. Just because it has existed for centuries, it doesn’t mean that it should be regarded as the foundational reference point for societal development. The church’s intent to influence politicians and the law of the ‘State’ needs to be restrained. The religious clergy of all religious denominations need to focus on LOVE as the core guiding principle of their existence as articulated below:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
The People
Followers who associate themselves as being ‘religious’, the majority of which have never read the bible cover to cover, also need to be held to account for their comments on this issue. Just because they go to church and on occasion actually seek to learn more, they should not regard themselves as having any authority to ‘lay down the law’ to their fellow citizens based on their understanding of bible scripture.
The ‘church script’ regurgitated every Sunday by Judeo Christian priests all over the world is limited to no more than 1-2 pages of the bible. The King James authorised Bible has 1,281 pages which includes both the Old & New Testaments. Only bible based churches, with the intended purpose of teaching and studying the meaning of scripture are positioned as devout followers and have the right to call themselves religious.
All citizens should not pass judgement or attempt to point out any shortcomings or flaws amongst other people in the community. Even Christians are not infallible and must at all times demonstrate humility, love and compassion to everyone. Criticising gays, lesbians or any other group or individuals in the community is Hypocrisy.
Matthew 7:1-5
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s ey.
People that don’t yet believe in God or Jesus Christ or any other religious entity, also have a role to play in UNITING their fellow community members on this issue by supporting innovative ideas that have a conciliatory effect of Bridging the Divide.
The Road to Equality
Politicians need to stop thinking about themselves, their electorates and winning or retaining government and act on introducing one law that applies to everyone because it is the fair and equitable thing to do.
To progress the ideal of equality, governments need to develop and adopt a new definition that is inclusive and unites all citizens by encompassing the same rights afforded to married heterosexual men and women as part of a revised government act that applies to same sex couples.
The word Marriage needs to be removed from the Law of the State.
This means that the Marriage Act needs to be RENAMED. Some ‘off the cuff’ thoughts to get the ball rolling,
– The Espousal Act, The Conjugal Act, The Wedded Act or some other appropriate name
The Revised Act needs to be superseded and renamed so that it may encompass the law, definitions thereof and individual rights of people who have agreed to be joined together as life partners in a way that engenders equality for all of the nation’s citizens.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.