Christians Being 'Bullied' by Society to Change Minds on Gay Marriage, Argues Sydney Archbishop

By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, July 16, 2015

A gay rights activist holds a placard during a rally supporting same-sex marriage, in Sydney, Australia, May 31, 2015. Bill Shorten, leader of Australia's opposition Labour Party introduced a bill to legalise same-sex marriage on June 1, 2015, adding the backing of a major party to growing public support for the issue after last month's landmark 'yes' vote in Ireland. Shorten introduced the bill, the first by a leader of a major Australian political party, in the government-dominated lower house of parliament despite opposition from conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is not expected to allow it to come up for a vote. — A gay rights activist holds a placard during a rally supporting same-sex marriage, in Sydney, Australia, May 31, 2015. Bill Shorten, leader of Australia's opposition Labour Party introduced a bill to legalise same-sex marriage on June 1, 2015, adding the backing of a major party to growing public support for the issue after last month's landmark "yes" vote in Ireland. Shorten introduced the bill, the first by a leader of a major Australian political party, in the government-dominated lower house of parliament despite opposition from conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is not expected to allow it to come up for a vote. | (Photo: Reuters/David Gray)

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney has argued that Christians who hold a traditional view of marriage are being "bullied" by society into changing their minds on gay marriage, noting that couples find themselves in an "uncomfortable position."

"There are voices in our culture that no longer think marriage need be for life, or be open to children, or be exclusive, or be between man and wife," Fisher said at a homily, according to a Catholic News Service report on Wednesday.

He added that "some politically, culturally and commercially powerful forces are determined to silence any alternative to the politically correct position in this matter; to bully us all into accepting the deconstruction and redefinition of a fundamental institution; and to relegate questions of what marriage is and is for as secondary to an homogenizing 'equality.'"

The archbishop argued that for Christians, the "God-given mission [is] to love not just with a self-serving, romantic, heart-shaped Valentine's Day sort of love, but with a self-giving, redemptive, cross-shaped Easter sort of love."

Fisher's comments come in light of a renewed push for same-sex marriage in Australia, with advocates buoyed by the recent victories in Ireland and the United States.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has maintained, however, that his country will not follow the Irish example and hold a referendum on the issue. Abbott further revealed that he is the last person in his family to uphold traditional marriage.

"Referendums are held in this country when there is a proposal to change our constitution and I don't think anyone is suggesting the constitution needs to be changed in this respect," Abbott said in May.

The Roman Catholic Church in Australia has defended traditional marriage in a pastoral letter sent out to congregations, despite some gay marriage supporters threatening to complain to Tasmania's anti-discrimination commissioner about the contents.

"It is an indication, I think, that if there is a change in the definition of marriage, anybody who opposes it will come under quite intense intimidation," Archbishop Julian Porteous of Hobart told The Catholic Weekly in Sydney. "It would mean that they would be imposing, really, complete acceptance of a change in the understanding of the nature of marriage."

Porteous further predicted that Australia's government-funded Catholic schools would come "under enormous pressure in our efforts to safely present the Catholic teaching" due to societal pressure.