Church’s twisted logic

I WISH to respond to Bishop Tim Harris’s letter ( TB, 26/ 9), which outlines his rationale for opposing same- sex marriage.

To summarise, the Bishop of Townsville suggests it would compromise, and potentially devalue, the institution of marriage and undermine its main principle of being the cornerstone of creating new life.

When you consider marriage was practised long before Christianity imposed itself on us, then one should question why the churches have been able to assume ownership of marriage and why they maintain the monopoly on its terms and conditions. Our Constitution Act outlines that the Commonwealth cannot legislate over our states and territories on religious observance, but it can on mar- riage. Hence the Marriage Act 1961. Therefore, if the Marriage Act is further amended to change the definition of marriage again, then religious freedoms would not be impacted unless the constitution was changed by way of a referendum.

Understandably, this could be the start of a slippery slope for religion, but there is no mention of this outcome in the Bishop’s correspondence, merely his love for the gay fraternity and the purpose of marriage, although he remains adamant that never the twain shall meet.

If the purpose of marriage is to create a bond between heterosexual couples so they can create life naturally, then clearly gay couples are unable to compete with such an expectation. In other words, gay couples will remain unqualified to marry due to their inability to create life naturally.

By the same token, heterosexual couples who marry but cannot conceive naturally and use medical intervention, are also outside those terms.

Plus some marriages result in adoption or a calculated choice not to create a family.

One would assume that by failing to comply with the expected terms of life creation that such marriages would be annulled.

Clearly that’s a ridiculous and cruel proposition, but seemingly the Bishop and his all loving and embracing church is content with such exceptions.

Yet, for all that, they remain unwavering when it comes to al- lowing those exceptions to apply to same- sex couples who use similar medical interventions to conceive, choose to adopt, or refrain from raising a family.

If you cannot see the double standards in that comparison, then clearly there is no point in trying convince you of the need for change.

The gay community have endured hundreds of years of abuse, social stigma and hate, yet the obstacle which prevents another hammer blow being struck into this dated and self- interest mindset, has been raised by the proponents of peace and love.

The hypocrisy is deafening and thankfully one which many of us do not condone. CHRIS WHITWORTH,

Idalia.