"Nationally consistent marriage laws are in Australia's best interests and the Commonwealth Marriage Act provides that consistency," National Ministries Director of Australian Baptist Ministries, the Revd Keith Jobberns, said.
"The ACT bill is a direct challenge to federal jurisdiction of marriage, and the federal government has a responsibility to act to protect the meaning of marriage as it is currently understood. Australian Baptists support action by the Federal Parliament to overturn State or Territory legislation that attempts to amend the definition of marriage to include same sex couples," Revd Jobberns said.
Australian Baptist Ministries affirms marriage as a union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life. Marriage is not the appropriate legal institution for same sex couples. The current debate on marriage is not about delivering justice with respect to so-called "equal love" or "marriage equality" but about how Australian society should structure itself for the benefit of future generations, particularly children.
Australian Baptist Ministries has written to the Prime Minister urging his Government to pass a bill authorising the Federal Attorney-General to recommend to the Governor-General that any law passed by the ACT Government legalising same sex marriage be overturned.