Today the ABS announced the results of the Australian Marriage Survey.  The result is clear 61.7% of respondents said yes to changing the law to allow same sex couples to marry. With a turn out of just under 80% this result is clear and incontestable.

So what happens now? How should those of us who hold a conservative traditional view of marriage respond? How should we as Christians respond?  

We should respond with grace. 

We have lost the debate, the Australian people have spoken and we need to honour their will.  We should not stand in the way of legislating this change.  I noted several months ago - before the survey was announced - that as a pluralist I though that Same Sex Marriage was supported by the majority and as a result should be legislated. 

In that previous post I also noted that religious, speech and conscience protections will need to be implemented to protect the freedoms of those who object to the change.  However I want to be clear that I agree with Fr Frank Brennan that the most appropriate way forward from this point is to pass the bill (download) that has been proposed by Dean Smith which includes basic protections for churches and religious celebrants.  This would allow the will of the Australian people to be respected quickly and allow the law change to be implemented by the end of the year.

Following the passage of that bill, I would argue then would be the time to look at strengthening the protections of religious freedom, conscience and speech - and I would argue the most appropriate way to do that would be through passing a formal bill of rights at the Commonwealth level.

Australia is a pluralist nation (not a secular one) which should be seeking to honour the outcome of this democratic process, while also seeking to ensure ALL Australians have their fundamental freedoms are protected. For me, though, this does not include the right of private businesses like a bakery, with no affiliation with a faith group, to deny service.  However it would include the right of the proverbial 'baker' or other individuals to publicly express their religious views without fear for their job, and without fear of being dragged before the courts.  It would also include the right of parents to withdraw their children from education programs that are contrary to their religious convictions, and for religious schools, charities etc to continue to promote their religious view on marriage without fear of losing funding or accreditation. 

I want to finish by taking this opportunity to .ask those who like me voted no, to show grace in defeat.  Today I have already seen comments from people trying to skew the results to say it wasn't a real majority because over 20% didn't cast a vote.  This is not the way forward, and all it does is damage the credibility, not of the vote, but of those who put forward such an 'argument'.  We lost it is now time to accept it and move on.

As a priest in the church of God, I will continue to teach that marriage, according to the Word of God, is something that can only happen between a man and a woman.  I understand that this view will now be different to the legal understanding of marriage in Australia, and I accept that.  The only thing I ask is that my right to continue to teach and uphold the traditional view be honoured, just as I will honour the newly established right of same sex couples to be married under law.