Marriage equality advocates have welcomed a change of heart on the issue by prominent Catholic priest and lawyer, Fr Frank Brennan SJ.
Fr Brennan is professor of law at the Australian Catholic University and has previously opposed marriage equality, despite being a high profile advocate for human rights and social justice,
In an article published today that responds to the recent US Supreme Court decision in favour of marriage equality, Fr Brennan wrote,
“It is high time to draw a distinction between a marriage recognised by civil law and a sacramental marriage.”
“I now accept that we can probably no longer draw a line between civil unions and same sex marriage. That will be the long term consequence of last month’s US Supreme Court decisions which will impact much further west than California.”
“…society could properly move to recognition of civil unions or same sex marriage if and when the overwhelming majority of the population (including those who are presently married civilly) supported such change.”
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome, said,
“Fr Brennan is a widely respected defender of human rights and dignity, so his change of heart on marriage equality will carry great weight among Catholics and non-Catholics alike.”
Fr Brennan continues to believe children are best raised by a mother and father, and cited popular support for marriage equality as a pre-requisite for the reform.
“While I disagree with Fr Brennan that two-mum and two-dad families are second-best, his distinction between who makes the best parents and who should be permitted to legally marry is an important one that other Christians should seriously consider.”
“Given that every Australian opinion poll for seven years has shown majority support for marriage equality I believe Fr Brennan’s threshhold for the nation enacting marriage equality has already been met “, Mr Croome said.
Fr Brennan’s change of heart comes a day after Baptist and Anglican ministers spoke out in support of reform.
For Fr Brennan’s article, click here
For the views of Baptist and Anglican ministers, click here
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: Media Release AME
Date: 10 July 2013