Click find out more to read the ACBC media release following the announcement of the result of the postal survey last week.

A number of Bishops have also issued letters and statements – you will find them in the following separate bulletins for your reference.

...I have written two long reflections, (in all over eight thousand (8,000) words), on this complex issue...My own view is that the ‘NO’ case became distracted by fears about religious freedoms.

Today, the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey result was announced, in which 62% voted ‘Yes’. We accept the result of the survey. It now seems likely that civil marriage will be open to people of the same sex and we respect that outcome.

The Catholic Church will continue to promote and practice the tenet of our faith that marriage is a lifelong union of a man and a woman, open to the possibility of children. The survey has confirmed that this is a position shared by millions of people in this country.

Parliament must work to unify Australians by respecting different views on marriage, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Denis Hart said today in the wake of the result of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.

“The Catholic Church, and many others who sought to retain the definition of marriage as it has been understood for centuries, continues to view marriage as a special union between a woman and a man, which allows for the creation and nurture of children,” Archbishop Hart said.

The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP, says he is both disappointed and heartened by the result of the National Marriage Postal Survey on changing the legal definition of marriage in Australia.

“While I do not deny the good will of many who voted Yes, I am deeply disappointed that the likely result will be legislation to further deconstruct marriage and family in Australia,” Archbishop Fisher said.

After all the hype, we now know that the Yes vote for the same-sex marriage was endorsed by 61.6% of the twelve million Australians who voted, and the No vote is endorsed by 38.4%, which remains a figure of several million people.

The result was not unexpected. The debate has been turned from being about “marriage” to being about “equality”. The Yes vote was argued in terms of discrimination but little was said on the true nature of marriage, apart from statements such that a love between a couple is all that matters.

This morning the results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey were released, with 61.6 per cent of Australians who took part voting yes and 38.4 per cent voting no.

While I had hoped for a different outcome, I readily acknowledge the result of this survey and I respect the firm decision made by the Australian people. I also want to thank those who led the respective campaigns on both sides of the debate for the relatively civil way in which they conducted themselves.

Senator Dean Smith introduced the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 to legalise same sex marriage, following the Yes vote winning the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. This Bill is being debated by Parliament.

Senator Smith’s Bill has a narrow view of religious freedom with protections confined to the marriage ceremony. Changing the law on marriage has much wider implications and requires protections for Australians and organisations with a traditional view of marriage.

Below are two dot points for each heading. Please click on find out more button below for full briefing paper with more dot points and explanations. Document is also available for download below.

Freedoms the Smith Bill would not protect:

• The bill would not protect ministers of religion outside a wedding ceremony.
• The bill would not protect charities that hold to a traditional view of marriage.

Criticisms of Smith Bill:

• The Smith bill isn’t a Religious Freedom Protection Bill, it’s a Wedding Ceremony Protection Bill.
• The bill does not protect the religious freedom of most Australians.

Legal/Human rights position:

• Equality doesn’t need to be shown through the implementation of SSM.
• The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion are recognised human rights.

In a culture which, for all its putative open-mindedness, is less and less tolerant of Christianity, how will we ensure in the years ahead that people in parishes, schools and other institutions are free to speak and practice their beliefs? How will we maintain a sense of who we are and what matters most to us when some others barely tolerate us or even vilify and bully us?

These are the questions which Archbishop Fisher says are particularly pertinent as we approach the final strait of the national marriage survey.

Download full homily below.

Marriage is in essence neither a relationship of law nor of religion; it is rather a relationship of nature between a man and a woman, which existed for millennia before it became a matter of law or religion.

Relationship of nature

There are many men and women in Australia living in long-term committed de facto relationships and who have brought forth and raised children. These men and women can rightly be said to be married to each other. Although they have never been formally married in a church, a synagogue, a mosque, a registry office or before a civil celebrant in a park or elsewhere, they are in fact living in a relationship of natural marriage; hence the expression de facto (as opposed to de jure). If asked why they have never officially formalized their union, many such couples in effect reply, “We do not need a piece of paper to prove that we are married”.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace be with you

THE POSTAL SURVEY

Most, if not all, registered on the Commonwealth of Australia electoral roll will have by now received a postal survey concerning same sex "marriage". At present, marriage in Australia is defined as being between one man and one woman, a lifelong union to the exclusion of all other persons. There is now a proposal to alter that definition so that it extends to members of the same sex. Marriage would thus be possible between two men or two women.

Dear Sisters & Brothers in the Lord

As the postal vote approaches, the subject becomes a personal issue for many people. Many of us have friends or siblings who are gay or have a dear son or daughter or relative who identifies that way and feels strongly that they should have a right to marry. It must be recognised that in so many cases there is a real bond and union of hearts between committed gay couples.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Catholic teachings on marriage and on homosexuality are quite well known, at least in general if not in detail: That marriage is the covenant by which a man and a woman establish a partnership for the whole of life for their mutual well-being and for the purpose of founding a family; and for baptised Christians marriage is given particular dignity as a Sacrament by Jesus, that is, a means of grace in the life of the couple.1

That homosexual persons must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity; that every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided; but homosexual actions cannot be approved because they do not proceed from a genuine sexual complementarity. The Church also teaches that with prayer, God’s grace, and the support of friends, homosexuals can and should approach Christian perfection.2

Dear Parents and Carers

In the coming weeks you will have the opportunity to participate in the postal survey on marriage, and to consider whether marriage should be redefined in Australian law so that individuals of the same sex can marry. We realise that you will all be reflecting on this question and respect your right to do so. However, given the significance of this issue and its implications for you, our Church and our Catholic schools, we thought we should write to you directly.

Marriage postal plebiscite

Australians are being asked to vote in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey (plebiscite) to determine whether the legal definition of marriage should be changed to include same-sex unions. Ballot papers will be sent out from Tuesday, 12 September and all votes must be received back by Tuesday, 7 November 2017.

This brochure provides an overview of Pope Francis’ teaching on marriage and the family for you to reflect upon. Please consider voting to keep marriage as a unique relationship between a woman and a man.

The Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017 came into force on 14 September 2017, and will continue to operate until the completion of the marriage survey on 15 November 2017. We have set out below a high-level summary of the key requirements of the Act.

Here is the Act: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017A00096

Here are the ABS Frequently Asked Questions: https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/safeguards

With the Yes case positioned to win the postal plebiscite, it is more important than ever the misleading and false claims of its advocates – that there is no religious issue at stake – be confronted and the ramifications put on the table.

These claims are made by senior Coalition and Labor politicians. Indeed, it seems they think rejection of the religious argument is fundamental to the success of their campaign. This is alarming because it implies the Yes case depends on persuading the public of a false proposition.

The government and parliament, despite years of emotional debate, declined to address the wider religious freedom question. The political class engaged instead in a great pretence: that the only such issue concerned the wedding ceremony and protections in the Marriage Act for clergy and celebrants, an extremely narrow view of religious freedom.

The Australian community, who generously received us Syro-Malabar faithful, risks abandoning its Christian values to become more secular. In this situation, we need exceptional courage, enthusiasm and perseverance to lead a Christian life based on its faith and morals.

On this occasion, I am obliged to draw your attention to a crucial decision, which will be made in Australia by the government.

Ever mindful of my duty as Shepherd and Teacher I write to you on an important and topical subject The initiative to redefine the meaning of marriage and, the voluntary postal survey that has been initiated by the Federal Government. We are being asked to vote "NO" or "YES" to a proposal that would allow people of the same sex to marry.

I’ve been told people are looking for guidance on same-sex marriage as we move towards the postal vote. That may be so, though I suspect that most people have already made up their mind on the issue and, if they’re looking for anything, they’re wanting some authority to support their position publicly. But that’s not really what I want to do here. By now the arguments for and against same-sex marriage are well enough known to those who want to know them, even if much of the debate has been too shallow or slick to do justice to the deeper issues. So there’s no need for me to go over well-trodden ground. But in a debate where the language has often been slippery it may help to clarify a few points that can be unclear. I wrote something like what follows a while ago. In the meantime, the debate has become more complex and heated, so I’ve made a few changes to take account of that.

MARRIAGE is taking quite a beating right now. Many people are muddled about what marriage is, have lost confidence in its achievability, or have given up even trying.

Those who do take the plunge often feel unsupported as spouses and undermined as parents by our culture, politics and economy.

So what is marriage all about?

Is marriage about bringing ­together two people of opposite sex so that, when they do what men and women do, any resulting children will have a mum and a dad for the long haul?

The current issue of same-sex marriage and the proposal to change the basic definition of marriage in Australia raises issues that are central to a society seeking maturity.

We all know and love same-sex attracted people in our families, parishes and communities. They do feel particularly vulnerable in the current national discussions. Our respect and care reaches out to them as always.

The Federal Government has announced its intention to hold a national postal survey, seeking the opinion of Australians before it considers changing the legal definition of marriage by an Act  of  Parliament  to  include same-sex couples.

Whatever  the  outcome  of  this  significant  development  in  the  life of  our  country,  the Church's  understanding  of  marriage will remain – that  marriage  is  a covenant  of  love between a man and a woman for life, and open to life. Our teaching is about the nature of marriage itself, not  its legal  status.

Dear Friends in Christ,
 
"The price of freedom," as the old saying goes, "is eternal vigilance." As I write, there are three current proposals for new laws which could, in various ways, impact on religious freedom. Conscientious Catholics should be vigilant and exercise their duties as citizens in a respectful and intelligent way.

1. The Seal of Sacramental Confession
2. Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia
3. Changing the Definition of Marriage

As you will all be aware recent political developments have meant that the issue of same-sex marriage is once again in the forefront of people’s minds.

In this short Pastoral Letter, I want to offer some general reflections on the Catholic Church’s teachings about, and approach to, this important question. You may remember that I have already written to you about this before – in 2015. However, as you take steps to ensure that you are enrolled to vote, as I sincerely hope you will, in the postal plebiscite which may soon take place, and as you consider how you intend to vote, it seems opportune for me to address this matter again. And if necessary, I will follow this up with a more detailed discussion on the implications of this matter in a further letter.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We Catholics in Australia love our nation.

Indeed, so much of what is cherished as good in our society is, in fact, the fruit of Christian culture.

If you vote 'no' or if you vote 'yes' in the plebiscite – what this means – download flyer for more information.

We are about to enter into a dialogue as a nation on legislation for marriage. It is imperative, and an obligation upon us from our faith and the Gospel, that we conduct this dialogue with a deep sense of reverence and respect for every person in the nation, and for the choices that they are free to make.

The Australian Government announced there will be a postal plebiscite on whether Australia should change marriage to include “same-sex marriage”. Ballot papers will be sent out on Tuesday September 12 and all votes must be received back by Tuesday November 7. Vote No, to keep marriage as a unique relationship between a woman and a man.

C4M is comprised of more than 80 groups from across Australia, representing over 3 million people and led by the Australian Christian Lobby, Marriage Alliance, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, and will be the leading voice in the campaign opposing changes to the Marriage Act.