Philo
do you believe infertile or impotent couples can be married?

TRUTHNOW78,

I wouldn't worry too much about your religious freedom if I were you. I refer you to Section 56 of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977:

56 Religious bodies

Nothing in this Act affects:

(a) the ordination or appointment of priests, ministers of religion or members of any religious order,
(b) the training or education of persons seeking ordination or appointment as priests, ministers of religion or members of a religious order,
(c) the appointment of any other person in any capacity by a body established to propagate religion, or
(d) any other act or practice of a body established to propagate religion that conforms to the doctrines of that religion or is necessary to avoid injury to the religious susceptibilities of the adherents of that religion.

See? You're safe. It's there in black and white in the law, and there's nowt any homosexuals can do about it save repealing the Act. And yes, this Act does only apply in NSW (where I live, which is why I pulled it up). But other States and Territories probably have similar exceptions in there anti-discrimination laws.

Acolyte Rizla

You’re quite correct. Churches are already free to put whatever conditions they choose on the people they marry. Some still don’t marry divorcees, others insist that couples are active worshippers, or that they agree to raise their children in the church tradition (though these promises are not always kept!).

No-one in Australia I know of has suggested that churches be compelled to marry gays – though I hope they choose to do so. This is a silly red herring. The issue is whether gays should be permitted by law to marry, whether in a church or a civil ceremony.

Rhian:

No, SS marriage should not prevail. It breaks down mainstream social cohesion by confusing the normal with the abnormal.

do you believe infertile or impotent couples can be married?
Rhian,
that is a pointless comparison.

kids losing out again to selfish adults