Liturgies

Tuesday, December 17th 2013

Same Sex Marriage

By Terry Fitzpatrick

It was a sad day on Thursday when the High Court in Canberra threw out the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) same-sex marriage law, declaring that the 27 marriages performed in the small 5 day window of opportunity to be invalid.

The High Court argued that the ACT same-sex marriage law was inconsistent with the Federal Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

The ACT law challenged this definition and lost. Attention turns now to the Federal Parliament where Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has introduced to the Senate, a Federal Bill for marriage equality.

Australia has reached a crucial turning point in the debate on Marriage Equality. It is now squarely on the national agenda.

In May of this year before Kevin Rudd was re-elected as Prime Minister he wrote about his change of mind on the question of same-sex marriage. He described himself as the last of the Mohicans, where in his own family; all were in favour of same-sex marriage except himself. Quoting Aquinas where faith is informed by reason, wherein if the latter is diminished we are reduced to varying forms of theocratic terrorisms where the stoning of heretics and the burning of witches would still be common place.

We know that the Bible says very little about marriage as we understand it today, and nothing at all about same-sex marriage. The Reverend Margaret Mayman, now from the Pitt Street Uniting Church in Sydney, says that ‘the texts that are used to condemn homosexual acts were written by people who had no understanding that human sexual orientation is a continuum. They also thought that the earth was flat and that demons caused illness. Marriage in the Old Testament included polygamy and sexual relationships with slaves. Rape victims were required to marry rapists. In Deuteronomy 2213-21, “a marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed.” This is the word of the Lord. Marriage in the New Testament encouraged celibacy, forbade divorce, and required subordination of women.

We have to move beyond literalist Christianity where slavery and polygamy would still be regarded as the norm; wives would be submissive to their husbands and people stoned to death for adultery.

The mainstream Christian Church has moved beyond these propositions. Christian ethics is subject to change. A hundred years ago people believed that a person chose to be gay. Many still believe it, but most biological and psychological research has found that a certain proportion of the community is born gay, whether they like it or not. Given this, should not our brothers and sisters who happen to be gay be fully embraced as full members of our wider society by being allowed full status as full members and allowed to marry?

Attitudes by the official church expressed by Archbishop Mark Coleridge who appeared on the ABC’s Q&A programme this year opposing not only same-sex marriage but any civil recognition of same sex unions and describing homosexuality as “a WARP in the CREATION” and an impossibility in God’s plan, only perpetuates officially sanctioned ignorance within the community.

The truth is that marriage has been evolving as a civil and religious institution throughout human history. For many centuries, neither church nor state were involved in celebrating marriages. While there have always been loving marriages, marriage has its origins in the more mundane realities of property, procreation and patriarchy.

But the move, in more recent times, of marriage from being mainly an economic arrangement to a relationship of love and support has meant that gay and lesbian people are seeking to join in. Over time, changes in the way we view marriage have occurred to recognize the humanity of people and their moral and civil rights, within marriage. In the past, neither the State nor religion recognized divorce and re-marriage, inter-racial marriage or gender equality in marriage. (Who gives this woman away not who gives the man away; and women to love and obey husband.)

Rather than threatening marriage, the changes of the modern era have strengthened it. And I believe that as our society embraces Same-Sex Marriage, where all members of our society have access, its potential to create stable and committed relationships is increased and where not only the couple is nurtured but any children they may have. Good marriages benefit the entire community.

Dr Peter Catt, President of A Progressive Christian Voice in Australia has said “Opening marriage to allow committed same-sex couples to express their commitment is an important way of increasing social cohesion. To have one’s relationship legitimized by the society in which one lives is both encouraging and life-giving.”

Many have balked at same-sex marriages arguing that there are unforeseen consequences for children who would be brought up by parents in a same-sex married relationship. For the care, nurture and protection of children in loving relationships must be our fundamental concern. Thirty years of research has seen the Australian and American Medical and Psychological Associations acknowledge that same-sex families do not compromise children’s development. They found that there were no Child Behaviour Checklist differences for these kids as against the rest of the country. And many of us who know of same-sex couples raising children would more than vouch for these findings.

Like the disciples of John the Baptist in today’s reading checking out Jesus, were sent back to John by Jesus with these words “Go back and tell John what you hear and see:” Those of us who know of same-sex couples raising children, go and tell others of what you see and hear.

Children loved and cared for, protected and provided for in supportive loving relationships, healthy and balanced children, vibrant and happy – there is nothing to be afraid of countering all the fear mongering by those who do not know better, and often do not know any same-sex couples.

As one banner at one of the rallies I attended stated: JESUS HAD TWO DADS ;  AND HE TURNED OUT FINE.