What is irrelevant is the Catholic church, to mend their ways they have to rename the Vatican city and declare the first pope as Mary Magdalin.

Religion is fast becoming outdated and selected fairy tales have come to an end.

There is that much wrong with stories in the bible that need to be rewritten or burnt. Man has been on earth for 2 million years +.

AJ,

Without a Christian background, you are not in a position to judge what is moral and what is not.

579,

Christianity is not "becoming outdated"; it is more important than ever. It is being derided and sneered at by empty people like you to the point that 'mass culture" has dragged society and the world down to the sorry state we are suffering we are now suffering.

Imacentristmoderate,

Keep up your good work.

What I find interesting is the posters who support the denial of free speech by exercising their right of free speech.

Isn’t there a religious war going on in the middle east. Religion does not have any portal to stand on at all. It’s the biggest con job the world has ever seen, and would be far better living in the real world.
Fictitious stories have no place any more, people know they have been led up the garden path of Eden. Get the real stories, and not the selected version.

Basic Christian Doctrine is simplistic:

http://www.facebook.com/312383761871/photos/a.313018011871.150599.312383761871/10153098347171872/

"Without a Christian background, you are not in a position to judge what is moral and what is not."

But if you are a Christian isn't Jesus' quoted command to not judge? [Matthew 7:1]

Which is ironic since - in this instance - the Catholic Bishops of Australia Pastoral Letter "to all Australians" is making judgments about Catholic and Christian theology, doctrine and orthodoxy. As well as extending these to the secular realm.

Which I accept is their entitlement and I look forward to the conciliation of the parties involved in Tasmania.

However, as the author claims Professor Nichols' article "points to an increasing trend in social discourse for protagonists not simply to want to win the argument, the debate, or even the election; but to demand total obedience to and compliance with their own ideology." it must be noted, Mr. Bird, that it is the Catholic Bishops who are seeking obedience and compliance with their own ideology.

Which must also include legal redress to obtain: "As we argue, the meaning of marriage is confined to relationships between a man and woman entered into voluntarily for life to the exclusion of all others and which is open to the procreation of children." in order to avoid charges of hypocrisy. [footnote p. 5, DMM]

Fortunately it is only all heterosexual divorces and re-marriages which, presumably, will be annulled.