Anglican Bishop encourages kindness and respect following postal survey results

The Bishop of Tasmania, The Rt Revd Dr Richard Condie today welcomed the publication of the results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.

“This survey has been difficult for many Australians and I’m glad that the public has now had its say,” said Bishop Condie.

“While I remain of the view that the traditional definition of marriage is the best building block for our society and for human flourishing, I acknowledge that the majority of Australian people have voted to allow same-sex couples to marry.

“My hope is that the Government will consider carefully any proposed new laws, respecting the views of the third of Australians who voted No while protecting against wider discrimination.

“Jesus teaches us that all people are created in the image of God, so regardless of our sexual orientation, we all have deep value.

“We need as a community to show kindness and respect to one another, despite deep differences,” said Bishop Condie.

Bishop Condie was pleased with the way most Tasmanians had engaged in the debate, respecting each other’s point of view.

The Bishop regards his own conversations with Rodney Croome, of Tasmanians for Marriage Equality, as “a great and rare privilege of being able to express contrary views in a generous and respectful manner”.

The Anglican Church of Australia recently reaffirmed its position to uphold the teaching of Jesus that marriage is the commitment of one man to one woman being entered into voluntarily for life.

The Anglican Church in Tasmania will continue celebrating marriage according to the teaching of our church.