The first thing that is needed to be said is that many people are sick to death of this subject, and that continual re-iteration of the proposal for homosexual marriage only serves to increase opposition. It is doubtful whether the Commonwealth government has powers in this direction, as the Buggery Act was still in force in 1901 (admittedly with the concession that the penalty for buggery had been downgraded from death to life imprisonment) so it is difficult to see how the term "marriage" in the Constitution could be made to include homosexual marriage. The solution that is most acceptable to all the community is civil union, and continuation of the push for homosexual marriage will be counter-productive.

Of course if you will believe this you will believe anything. The High Court has declared constitutional provisions "spent", discovered implied clauses (never approved by the people), and generally interpreted things the Commonwealth government's way. Such is life.

That kinda sums it up.

"Amending the Marriage Act would be evidence of the social compassion every society needs to survive."

Social compassion and Christianity have never been the most comfortable of bedfellows.

Hundreds of years of going to war against those who followed another religion, of burning "heretics", converting the "heathen" and more recently, separating children from their parents for the good of their soul, has left little room for compassion of any kind.

I dare say we will eventually find a way to survive without them. But in the meantime, their constant moaning on a topic that has absolutely no bearing or impact on the conduct of their own lives, is a form of mental tinnitus.

Its always amusing to hear people sprouting off about the moraltiy of people being so much worse 40 years ago than now. Forty years ago most people kept their word (marriage vowels), violence was nothing like it is today and people have not slept with 10 people before getting married. Aboriginals on missions were far better off than many enslaved by alcholol today and I suspect child abuse a lot less especially now that the perverted porn industry feeds the fallen nature of many.

But yet this new 'enlightened ' generation are so 'righteous ' that killing the unborn for convenience is okay and now denying kids of a mother or father is secondary to the selfish wants of 2% or so of the population. Aren't we 'blessed' to have such a 'compassionate ' generation.

Excellent piece, Noel.

Yes, more than 40 years. But the move is definitely on. The forces of conservatism, including in churches and parliaments, will not stay the reform much longer.

Noel, can you respond to some of the comments here?

Meanwhile, a couple of observations:

@John J: No, the Judeo-Christian Scriptures do not oppose gay marriage at all. The specific same-sex acts which are prohibited are all coercive, abusive, offensive or idolatrous, as the texts make clear. The fact that one passage calls for the death penalty is strong evidence that this is a specific idolatry offence, not a sexual offence.

Nor does Church history reveal continual opposition to blessing same-sex unions. Homophobia has waxed and waned. We are emerging from an unfortunate homophobic period now.

@Plerdsus:
Why do you claim “continual re-iteration of the proposal for homosexual marriage only serves to increase opposition”? It seems from most measures of opinion, support is steadily growing. And appears to accelerate as the debate intensifies. No?