Church groups speak on poll

THE same-sex marriage postal ballot gives people the chance to show their support for marriage as it had been traditionally understood, the Catholic Church says.

“The church will be urging Australians to support the real meaning of marriage, and alerting them to the many negative consequences that are likely to follow any change to the legal definition of marriage,” Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteous said.

The Anglican Church in Tasmania will treat the issue as a pastoral matter although Bishop Richard Condie has not decided whether to write to clergy or congregations.

“The Anglican Church shares similar views on the issue of redefining marriage with a lot of other groups, so if there is an opportunity to work with others, we would consider it,” he said.

The Uniting Church in Australia said it would not recommend any position to its members.

“The UCA is engaged in its own independent consideration on marriage,” Uniting Church president Stuart McMillan said.

The Australian Christian Lobby and a recently formed Coalition for Marriage is planning to raise millions of dollars for a campaign against samesex marriage.

ACL spokesman Lyle Shelton said the Coalition for Marriage would comprise the ACL, Marriage Alliance, Sydney Anglicans, Sydney Catholics and hundreds of other church and secular groups around the country.

An online Mercury poll staged a remarkable turnaround yesterday. The previous day 63 per cent had voted in favour of marriage equality, but last night 61 per cent had voted against.