Advocates hope the revelation that conservative Catholic leader, Peter Westmore, has blessed his daughter’s same-sex marriage will increase pressure on Tony Abbott for a free vote on the issue.
It has been reported that in November Mr Westmore, head of the National Civic Council, Australia’s most active Catholic lobby group against marriage equality, attended the New Zealand marriage ceremony of his daughter Trish Hackney-Westmore to her wife Christy Hackney-Westmore. The report says the marriage has Mr Westmore’s blessing.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,
“The revelation about Peter Westmore is a reminder that marriage equality can affect Australian families, no matter their religion, politics or ideology.”
“Some people will call Mr Westmore hypocritical for opposing marriage equality, but my hope is that, like many other people of faith, he’s on a journey towards supporting it.”
“The more the families of conservative Catholics like Mr Westmore are affected by Australia’s discriminatory marriage laws, the more pressure there will be on Tony Abbott to allow a free vote on the issue.”
The founder of the National Civic Council, Bob Santamaria, was a major influence on Tony Abbott. The NCC organised a letter writing campaign in defence of his Prime Ministership last month.
For the news report on Mr Westmore click here.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 26 March 2015