Churches warn on gay marriage

Priests and ministers from Geraldton’s biggest Christian denominations would opt out of conducting civil wedding ceremonies if compelled to officiate at same-sex weddings, should legislation change.

Leaders of the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting churches said that as a conscience issue they would have to take a stand.

The Federal Government will debate a private members’ bill next month that, if passed, would legalise same-sex marriage.

The leader of Australia’s biggest Anglican Church diocese, Geraldton-based Bishop Gary Nelson, said his position on the issue was “if anything, more resolved”.

In 2013, he told The Geraldton Guardian he could not bless or marry same-sex couples.

In the Anglican Church of Australia all ministers must receive a blessing from the diocesan bishop to be marriage celebrants.

Bishop Nelson said it was “very likely” Christians’ freedom of religion and freedom of speech would be compromised if same-sex marriage was legalised.

“If we were forced to marry (same-sex couples) or forced to have our buildings used for weddings, particularly under anti-discrimination legislation, we would certainly withdraw from being marriage celebrants, ” he said.

The Anglican Church in the North West diocese would still perform Christian wedding ceremonies for heterosexual Christian couples, but they would need to visit a civil celebrant to have their marriage recognised by the State.

Last week more than 300 members of the Uniting Church from across Australia visited Perth, where the issue of same-sex marriage was canvassed.

Uniting Church minister David de Kock, who leads the Geraldton Lighthouse Church, said if same-sex marriage was legalised, the Lighthouse church would simply conduct a Christian marriage ceremony. “I think that is probably the way much of the church is likely to go, ” he said.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Geraldton, Justin Bianchini, said if the law changed he would consider the same course of action.

He said first and foremost this was not about discrimination of same-sex couples.

“We are not against people of same-sex attraction, ” he said.

“If this law came in, we would hope they would respect our view of what marriage is.”

He said if the Marriage Act was changed, he hoped a clause would protect ministers of religion from being compelled to conduct a marriage contrary to their beliefs.

“If there weren’t any conditions like that, we would basically withdraw from being civil celebrants, ” he said.

“I’d wait to see what happens first and what the conditions are. I’d just hope, knowing what we stand for, we won’t be prosecuted for continuing that faith.”

Currently, the Geraldton Church of Christ does not have any ministers who hold a marriage licence.

As such, pastor John Seaby said the legalisation of same-sex marriage would not affect the church in this regard.

There are moves in the Presbyterian Church of Australia to also opt out of legal marriage ceremonies.

Earlier this year Ireland passed same-sex marriage legislation after a referendum resulted in a Yes-vote of more than 60 per cent.

Last month, a US Supreme Court ruling led to legalisation of same-sex marriage across that nation.

In the most recent census (2011) 23 people living in the City of Greater Geraldton indicated they were in a same-sex relationship (16 females and seven males).

Conscience stand: Anglican Bishop Gary Nelson says ministers in his diocese would no longer act as marriage celebrants if the government tried to compel churches to officiate at same-sex weddings. Picture: Gavin Box